Reincarnation Sword God

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I returned straight to the White Lotus Sect using the Four Universal Statues. I briefly considered stopping by Mangnyang, but decided against it.

That’s because the Master of the White Lotus Sect is undoubtedly observing every little move I make, even if he doesn’t say it outright. Given that he has subdued all the martial forces in the area as the Lord of Jangryeong Valley, it’s quite likely that one of the Sect Leader’s spies is lurking near Jinrang Valley. If I were to visit there, even for just a moment, it would raise suspicions about Mangnyang due to the Master’s watchful eyes scattered throughout the martial world. Of course, it’s possible that I could go unnoticed, but there was no reason to take such risks at this point, especially since I just had my equipment looted. If Mangnyang were to be taken hostage somehow, it would be a big problem.

Zhuge Sa mocked me, sensing my thoughts.

[ You’re treading carefully. If you had done that every time, you might have halved your death count.]

“Shut it!”

After getting off the Four Universal Statues, I angrily headed towards the Hall of the Sect Leader. Samro, who was at the entrance, looked at me and said,

“It was true that you have the ability to teleport. I never expected you to return from Liaoning so quickly.”

“……”

“Don’t be too wary. As long as you’re useful to the Sect Leader, the Elders Council will assist you. We’ll be sharing meals together, so if you keep frowning like that, you’ll only tire yourself out.”

With that, Samro chuckled.

“The Sect Leader is also eager to see you. Follow me.”

“Understood.”

As I followed Samro to the Hall of the Sect Leader, the Master spoke as soon as he saw me.

[ Do you know why I’m so wary of the Twelve Joules Master?]

After pondering for a moment, I replied,

“I assumed it’s because of the strong forces he commands within the Twelve Joules.”

[ Of course, the Twelve Joules are powerful. Excluding our White Lotus Sect, they are second to none among the external forces. If they combine their strength, they would be at least twice as strong as the Nine Great Sects of the Central Plains. However, the reason I fear the Twelve Joules Master isn’t due to the strength of such forces. That’s something the Dharma Protectors could handle anyway.]

“So…”

[ It’s the individual power of the Twelve Joules Master, the Three Masters, and the fact that he is connected to the Manha Spiritual Gate that makes me uneasy… That’s what’s most concerning.]

It was peculiar. What difference did it make?

After thinking a little more, I asked,

“I understand that the Twelve Joules Master possesses magnificent martial arts and techniques, but can they truly compare to your skills, Master?”

[ Naturally. That person is quite strong.]

“……!!”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect made a definitive statement!

I was secretly startled. While I had known from my past lives that the Twelve Joules Master was incredibly strong, I was so impressed by the Master’s overwhelming martial prowess just the other day that I had subconsciously looked down on the Twelve Joules Master. I thought no matter how strong he was among humans, he could not withstand the absolute forces like the Master’s Lunar Eclipse, Infinite Heart, or the countless seasonal arts.

But now the Master seemed to regard him as an equal, and it appeared there were solid reasons for that. When I glanced at the Sect Leader, he continued,

[ I fear the Manha Spiritual Gate because I read in ancient texts that they are also a direct lineage of gods. The Three Masters known as the Rain Master, Wind Master, and River Master are all beings that transcend humanity to some extent. However, what frightens me more is that the Twelve Joules Master is an absolute being that sprung forth from the Manha Spiritual Gate like a jack-in-the-box.]

“Are you saying the Twelve Joules Master is not human?”

[ I don’t know. But there are no humans capable of summoning a phoenix. At that point, they have transcended humanity.]

“……”

Suddenly, I recalled when I faced the Twelve Joules Master in the past, and he had introduced himself.

[ What should I say… As the 23rd River God (河伯) of the Twelve Joules of the Haedong School and the Manha Spiritual Gate, it’s my duty to oversee the phoenix… or as Dan-gun, who governs the Shindansu of the Three Sovereigns, implementing the Hongik Ingan philosophy… Or as the master of the Wood Luminary, the owner of the Sea Seal, with curiosity about the other Seven Luminaries… You can interpret it in any way you like.]

At that time, I merely thought he had various titles. But now that I listened to the words of the Master, it seemed there was profound significance to his title as the River God ruling over the phoenix of the Manha Spiritual Gate and as Dan-gun.

‘ Hmm… The secret behind the power of the Twelve Joules Master may not just be the Wood Luminary. Could it mean that his power as Dan-gun is even stronger than possessing the Wood Luminary?’

Can there really be powers stronger than the masters of the Seven Luminaries?

I still couldn’t figure it out. The Twelve Joules Master seemed to prattle on about various matters, but never mentioned anything truly crucial. He just dropped a few objective clues and never revealed the secrets or intentions he was hiding deep within. He was truly a cunning individual.

I inwardly asked Zhuge Sa,

[ You must have read my memories of the Twelve Joules Master. What do you think of him?]

[ ……]

[ Zhuge Sa?]

After a moment of silence, Zhuge Sa replied,

[ I don’t know. That fellow is just too unpredictable.]

[ I can see that.]

[ Do you even know what I mean by unpredictable? Tch…]

Zhuge Sa was treating me like a fool for no reason. I was about to retort, but he continued,

[ Under normal circumstances, there shouldn’t be a human power capable of threatening the Master of the White Lotus Sect. I, who faced him directly, know this best. The Master of the White Lotus Sect is an extraordinary being, possibly the strongest in the history of the East, and a transcendent-level existence. No other forces, including all those of the White Lotus Sect combined with the martial forces of the Central Plains, could defeat the Master.]

[ Why?]

[ Yet, despite that, there exists the Twelve Joules Master in this era, an existence on par with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. The probability of such a being emerging in the long history of the world is incredibly low, and yet it’s happening now. Doesn’t it seem strange?]

[ ……]

That’s true. So far, I hadn’t considered from this perspective since the Twelve Joules Master had just seemed like a natural part of my life, but it definitely felt odd. Could there really be two ultimate beings existing at the same time? While I was lost in thought, Zhuge Sa spoke.

[ Hyun seems suspicious about this matter too. Last life, he probably dragged the Twelve Joules Master into things to keep the White Lotus Sect in check and to uncover that secret.]

[ The White Lotus Sect takes precedence.]

[ Whatever. Just focus on what’s in front of you. The Master of the White Lotus Sect is becoming suspicious.]

Oh no!

I snapped back to reality and focused my eyes ahead. Sure enough, the silence between the Master and me had grown awkwardly long, and I could clearly feel the Master’s gaze penetrating through me. I hastily turned to the Master and said,

“Sorry, I apologize. I got lost in thought…”

[ You think too much. That’s not a bad thing.]

“I’ll be careful.”

[ Don’t worry about it.]

The Master waved it off lightly and continued,

[ Last time, you mentioned that you disliked the return mission of the Thunder God Sect. I saw merit in that, so I decided to prepare a different reward this time.]

“What do you mean by that…?”

[ I would like to bestow you the Heavenly Spirit Pillar immediately, but the Spirit Sect is currently busy with the promotion ceremony. So I can’t give it to you right now. You’ll have to wait at least two or three years.]

“Hmm.”

I said with a grunt. I had already heard the shortcomings of the Heavenly Spirit Pillar when dealing with the Sea God, so I thought it might be a good thing, but was there really a separate promotion ceremony? It seemed the internal workings of the Spirit Sect were crucial to obtaining the Heavenly Spirit Pillar.

The Master then said,

[ So I think it’s proper to properly train you as your Master.]

“Train me?”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect spoke with an oddly serious tone.

[ There have already been several discussions internally. All three Dharma Protectors who assessed your skills unanimously expressed that you are lacking in ability and showed reluctance.]

“……”

[ They couldn’t accept you being called a master of the Thunder God Sect.]

What was this about?

I felt a headache coming on. If that were true, it meant that all the Dharma Protectors who gathered at the Lord of Jangryeong Valley that day thought I fell short of expectations? I couldn’t understand because both Yongbi-cheon and Han Baek-ryeong had given me fairly favorable evaluations of my martial skills. Feeling insulted at being dismissed, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[ Hehe, you fool. To an ordinary martial artist in the Central Plains, your martial skills would be impressive. But the Thunder God Sect is among the four great sects with a millennium of history, competing for supremacy. As a master of these four great sects, your skills must unquestionably be lacking. Even without the Heavenly Spirit Pillar, you can’t compare to Yongbi-cheon.]

[ Ugh…]

I felt that sweet spot getting poked. It was evident that my martial skills had barely surpassed Lee Gwang’s level, but to the Dharma Protectors, I wouldn’t seem impressive. Although Lee Gwang was an ultimate top expert in the Central Plains, he was still far from rare in the stronghold of the White Lotus Sect. If I were to count the Elders Council alone, there would be at least five who could surpass Lee Gwang level. Moreover, recalling how the two from the Lightning Triplets—Jeokwool and Nokwool—had applied strict standards to Lee Gwang, it wasn’t hard to understand.

While I was silent, the Master said,

[ I will personally supervise the study of the Three-step Absolute Techniques and the interpretation of the Seven Great Absolute Arts. Within three years, you should achieve some results.]

“What?!”

[ Don’t you want to?]

I swallowed hard.

‘ Of course, it’s a great offer, but…’

There’s no one stronger than the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Being personally guided by the definitive strongest in the martial world was indeed a tremendous opportunity. However, that statement also meant I had to reveal every single aspect of the Seven Great Absolute Arts I possessed. If I were to share even the fundamental principles of the Seven Great Absolute Arts with the Master of the White Lotus Sect, it would be equivalent to handing over all of Zhang Sanfeng’s insights intact.

Not to mention, the Master was already an extraordinarily powerful being. If he were to fully acquire the Seven Great Absolute Arts, just how strong would he become? He might not even need the Thunder God Sect’s Thunder God Mandala! Wouldn’t it make it impossible to reclaim my treasure from the Master of the White Lotus Sect forever?

But I quickly gathered my thoughts and bowed my head.

“I can only express my deep gratitude! I earnestly welcome all your guidance.”

After all, the Master of the White Lotus Sect was an immense mountain I couldn’t touch at this point. Therefore, I had no choice but to utilize him to the maximum and strengthen my own power until I could rival him. I had better give up on reclaiming my treasure in this life.

The Master of the White Lotus Sect spoke with apparent satisfaction,

[ It’s been a long time since I taught someone, so I may be clumsy.]

“Understood. Naturally.”

If I received teachings from the Master on the Three-step Absolute Techniques and diligently trained, wouldn’t I be strong enough to utilize them in my next life or in ten years? As that thought crossed my mind, my heart raced with excitement. Just when I was trying to think positively, the Master continued,

[ You’ll need some time to familiarize yourself with the atmosphere of our Sect. I’ll summon you again in three days, so please take this token.]

Swish

A golden token flew in my direction. As I graciously received it, I noticed the words “Thunder God” engraved on it. It seemed to be made of pure gold. Lost in staring at the golden token, the Master said,

[ This token proves you are a Dharma Protector of the Thunder God Sect. All other warriors of the White Lotus Sect below the Dharma Protector level will hear your name, Baek Woong.]

“Respectfully received!”

[ Then you may leave.]

I exited the reception room of the Master of the White Lotus Sect and began to follow Samro again. Samro, who was walking ahead, said,

“Baek Woong. Now that you’ve received the token, you’ll be treated as a proper Dharma Protector from now on.”

Samro spoke in a more formal tone. When I glanced back at him, he chuckled.

“Of course, you have to back it up with your skills to be treated like a real Dharma Protector…”

“What do you mean by that?”

Samro turned his head.

“Right now, the Thunder God Sect has only you. If you don’t have the strength even up to the level of a master, boasting your authority as a Dharma Protector will only invite ridicule.”

“……!!”

“Don’t take it the wrong way. This is a piece of advice.”

As Samro muttered that, he continued,

“Among the older Druids of the Wind and Fire Sects, there are some exceptional warriors. Those individuals could rival even the top experts of the Elders Council. I hope you won’t embarrass yourself by overstepping your bounds.”

“… Understood.”

I could accept that Samro’s words were indeed advice. Given that he belonged to the Elders Council, he was someone who could objectively grasp the political dynamics within the White Lotus Sect and was offering sincere guidance for the benefit of the newcomer. Nonetheless, I inwardly clicked my tongue.

‘ Even with my martial skills, there are hardly any among the Central Plains who could rival me… Is it really this hard to maneuver within the White Lotus Sect?’

But in any case, I had officially joined the White Lotus Sect. How I proceeded from here would greatly affect what I could obtain in this life. As I mentally prepared myself, I arrived at my lodging when a beautiful woman in her twenties, dressed in ceremonial attire, entered my room.

“Dharma Protector.”

“Who are you?”

“The bathwater is all prepared, and I’ve come to serve you.”

“……”

My face turned beet red. The mention of “serving for a bath” implicitly suggested some intimate connotation between the genders. It was a euphemism commonly used when high-ranking individuals or the wealthy were offered hospitality. I wondered if I was misinterpreting, so I asked her,

“I can wash myself. If you mean something else, I must refuse.”

“It was another meaning…”

“……”

As I was taken aback by her unabashed demeanor, she spoke without a hint of change in her expression.

“Then I’ll guide you to where the bathwater is.”

“I don’t need your help. Who ordered such a thing?”

“The Master said to serve you, Dharma Protector.”

“Ugh…”

I frowned. At this point, the only one who could have ordered me to be served was the Master of the White Lotus Sect. He probably thought I was a full-fledged adult and was making unnecessary fuss. I inwardly clicked my tongue.

‘ My physical appearance is that of a child; why is he being so considerate?’

Regardless, it was not a very welcome gesture. I decided to check with her just in case.

“Do all other Dharma Protectors receive this kind of service too?”

“Well, I’m not sure. Today is the first time I’ve received such an order…”

“Oh my. I’ll have to tell the Master myself, so please leave.”

“Yes. Please rest comfortably.”

As she exited the room, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[ What’s up? Have you learned the art of the young boy?]

“Damn it. I only need Mi-ho.”

[ Hahaha… A reincarnator who’s a pure heart is downright hilarious.]

“Shut up…”

Suddenly, Zhuge Sa changed his tone.

[ Hey, you need to find an excuse to go to Xinjiang by the New Year’s Day next year.]

“What?”

[ I was supposed to do that, but since I lost my body, it’s up to you now.]

I was taken aback and replied,

“What kind of nonsensical request is that?”

[ The location is to the north of the Tibetan Plateau in Xinjiang. You must go there.]

“I don’t see why I have to go there! That area leads directly into the Western Regions.”

This was absurd. The place Zhuge Sa mentioned was truly somewhere I had never been. It was because the Tibetan area in Xinjiang was far away from the Central Plains, clearly bordering the Western Regions. If one continued westward, they’d eventually reach the desert, which stretched for thousands of li, becoming a natural treacherous area. Any reasonable person wouldn’t think of venturing into such distant frontier lands.

At my question, Zhuge Sa responded,

[ There’s someone waiting for you there, the Betrayer Lord.]

“Betrayer Lord Bijeol?”

I replied incredulously.

“What kind of reason is that? Regardless of what agreement you seem to have met with Bijeol, there’s no reason for me to entertain your request…”

[ You’d better go. If you don’t, Bijeol might come to kill you.]

I stood there in a daze and then scoffed.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Even if Bijeol is strong, he’s just a peak master from Sichuan!”

Unexpectedly, Zhuge Sa replied in a deadpan tone,

[ That’s just the facade he’s wearing. That is certainly not his true self.]

“What do you mean by true self? Are you saying I can’t defeat him?”

[ Yeah. If you engage in battle, you’ll die in an instant.]

“……”

What the hell was this? As I stood there, utterly flabbergasted, Zhuge Sa looked like he was also having a difficult time processing it.

[ I didn’t expect things to get so complicated, but since they have, I guess I need to tell you.]

“What do you mean?”

[ Bijeol is not human. Do you know why I’ve forced my lifespan to extend?]

“What do you mean he’s not human?”

I suddenly realized something and fell silent. Zhuge Sa seemed to have expected this and laughed maniacally, speaking with a hint of madness.

[ Because he made a contract with the Demon King.]