Reincarnation Sword God

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After that, I wandered around the inner fortress of the White Lotus Sect for three days. The foundation of the White Lotus Sect was vast enough to surpass an average fortress, and the fortifications within seemed designed to prepare for the possibility of war. There were also many farmers and commoners managing various agricultural products, indicating a self-sufficient community. Considering the influence of the sect, it seemed that there were tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people under the White Lotus Sect’s wing. However, not all of them were proper members; it appeared that few had formally trained in martial arts and directly assisted the sect’s activities.

When I encountered a farmer and asked why he hadn’t properly joined the White Lotus Sect to learn martial arts, he replied,

“Ah, that’s just a dream, you know?”

“Why is that a dream?”

“They prioritize kids with talent for martial arts, and even if they get in, it’s through intense competition that they receive Sacred Lotus. Plus, the rigorous selection process means that ordinary folks like us can only dream of becoming White Lotus Members.”

“Hmm…”

It turns out that there weren’t many who properly became part of the White Lotus Sect’s martial organization or were recognized as part of the Four Great Styles. Since they grew Sacred Lotus in large quantities, they could produce powerful warriors, so I pondered why that was, and Zhuge Sa chimed in,

[ With interlopers lurking around, do you think they would just accept anyone as a White Lotus Member? Even if there are interlopers, it’s better to monitor them first before accepting anyone. Why can’t you consider more than one angle?]

[ Quiet. That’s something anyone would figure out with a little thought.]

[ Even if it’s few, there are probably hundreds to thousands of White Lotus Members who have consumed Sacred Lotus. It’s a fact that the White Lotus Sect is a formidable organization.]

[ ……]

As Zhuge Sa said, even if they strictly selected warriors among the hundreds of thousands affected by the White Lotus Sect, the number would still be quite significant. This is because the White Lotus Sect operates in opposition to the Imperial Palace, so they must always be prepared for the possibility of the Imperial extermination squads arriving. Therefore, in anticipation of dealing with large military forces, it makes sense that they would maintain a standing army, and the outcome would likely be the training and arming of Sacred Lotus Members.

‘ But this is more like a nation than anything else.’

I couldn’t help but let out a low murmur. At least the stronghold of the White Lotus Sect was fortified, and it seemed that almost everything within a dozen li was under the sect’s jurisdiction. There were both watchtowers and solid structures that could serve as fortresses in emergencies. Moreover, well-maintained armories stocked with finely crafted weapons indicated that they were always ready for war. Some regions even used a different currency system than the outside world.

In this place, the Master of the White Lotus Sect was akin to an emperor. No, to White Lotus members, the Master might even be viewed as a divine being. Realizing the might of the White Lotus Sect made me feel pity for Lee Gwang and the Thunder God Sect.

A terrifying organization like this has never existed, nor will it in the future.

To fight against the White Lotus Sect would be nothing short of suicide.

After completing my reconnaissance, I returned to my lodging to rest. Today marked the third day, so I would meet with the Sect Leader tomorrow to begin the transmission of his secrets. While looking up at the night sky from a pavilion, I spoke to Zhuge Sa,

[ I have a question.]

Zhuge Sa replied curtly,

[ Do I have to answer every question you have? How about shutting up and getting some sleep?]

[ Damn it. You just have to… ]

I frowned and continued,

[ Why does the White Lotus Sect need the Young Master to heal before aiming for the conquest of the Central Plains?]

Zhuge Sa seemed intrigued by my question.

[ Oh… why do you think that?]

[ After today’s observations, my doubts have deepened. The current capabilities of the White Lotus Sect include hundreds or even thousands of formidable warriors, Dharma Protectors, and Elder-level experts, making them no weaker than a hundred-thousand soldiers. While the Young Master’s martial arts are formidable as part of the Shinsil Style, in the face of the whole sect’s power, they seem insignificant. In terms of combat capability, he is practically useless.]

[ So?]

[ From another perspective, isn’t it faster for the Master of the White Lotus Sect to conquer the Imperial Palace first and expand his power to find a way to heal the Young Master, rather than waiting for a remedy during confinement?]

[ Hehe… For a fool, that’s pretty astute.]

As Zhuge Sa mocked me, he thought for a moment before responding.

[ You’re overlooking something.]

[ Overlooking what?]

[ The signs that the Young Master has been cursed by God. That information only came from the Master of the White Lotus Sect, and it’s not something a third party knows about. Moreover, there’s no proof that it’s true.]

Gasp!

I was taken aback by Zhuge Sa’s words. It was a point I hadn’t considered. I paused, troubled, and asked,

[ Are you saying the Master lied about the signs of the curse?]

[ What’s stopping him? You’ve known all along he’s a cunning individual. Why wouldn’t he lie to mere outsiders like you? Have I said anything wrong?]

[ ……]

Indeed, Zhuge Sa’s assertions made sense. He chuckled as if amused by my naivety.

[ Just like you said, the Master of the White Lotus Sect wouldn’t be the kind of person who would abandon his great cause just over the life or death of the Young Master. Such a person wouldn’t simply avoid conquering the Central Plains just out of concern for the Young Master. In other words, it’s not that the Master is unwilling to take action; it’s just that he ‘can’t’ do so.]

[ Can’t? Why’s that?]

[ It might have something to do with the Young Master. The Young Master could be far more important than you think.]

After Zhuge Sa spoke, he commented as if scratching my ears.

[ You should have joined the sect a lot sooner. Just how many years have you spent skimming the surface? The information you and Hyun have is all the generosity the Master has given to you, hahaha.]

[ Damn! That’s why I joined the sect! Stop dissing me! ]

[ You’ve encountered this mess because you tried to get everything at once.]

[ Oh, just stop it?!]

As I expressed my frustration, Zhuge Sa took a step back, as if to escape.

[ First, you need to gain the Master’s trust if you want to know more about that situation. But to earn such trust, you’re going to have to show unwavering loyalty for at least thirty to fifty years. You can either dig for information like that or ask the Young Master directly, or else…]

[ Or else?]

[ You could head back and dig for information.]

What does that even mean?

Zhuge Sa mocked me.

[ Ugh. You really are inconvenient with that small brain of yours. Shouldn’t you be able to connect the dots with just one sentence?]

[ Just explain it.]

[ The Master mentioned that a wizard from the Western Region suddenly fought the [Ancient Ruler] that he summoned. Excluding the Master and the [Ancient Ruler], what remains?]

[ A wizard.]

[ You really don’t understand even after this?]

[ Ah!]

Only then did I grasp what he meant.

If that’s true, then there must be the spirit of the deceased wizard around here! Unless that spirit ascended and vanished, they could definitely be summoned to find out about the events from back then through the celestial channel. I couldn’t help but be amazed, realizing that I hadn’t thought of taking that approach.

Suddenly feeling ludicrous, I said to Zhuge Sa,

[ Hey! You could have told me about that method in these three days! I could’ve looked for the wizard’s spirit and found out! Why make me waste time?!]

[ Are you kidding? Do you think you can wander around freely right now?]

[ What?]

[ You don’t think your every movement isn’t being monitored, do you? There are those with Spirit Eye around here. In such circumstances, would you blatantly use celestial techniques for channeling? The Master surely must have faith in you.]

[ ……]

As I became speechless, Zhuge Sa said,

[ If you really want to save time, stop sleeping and practice the Seven Great Techniques instead. I’ve never seen anyone as dull as you in my lifetime.]

“I got it!”

Angered, I shouted aloud. Just talking with him made me feel irritated. Unlike Mangnyang, Zhuge Sa was intentionally mocking me, leaving my mind in a twist. Plus, the moments of madness I sensed from Zhuge Sa confirmed that he wasn’t completely sane.

Let’s practice the Seven Great Techniques like yesterday.

I sat down calmly and focused my Qi. Then, I immersed myself in practices for absorption.

[ The spirit (魄) is the driving force. Therefore, the strength from your absorption will become your Soul Power. Furthermore, this Soul Power has extremely limited postnatal training methods, so you must learn the technique to enhance your absorption.]

Whoosh…

[ The Soul Power is not related to Qi or internal strength. Therefore, you should contemplate what your soul is and materialize it; that’s what you must believe. If you believe in it, that reality will manifest, creating a virtual magnetic pull.]

This was far more detailed than what I’d learned from Mangnyang. Thanks to this, I began to gradually understand what it meant to absorb the spirit. However, despite all that effort, the absorption power seemed hardly to increase, making me feel like I was just standing still.

After around two hours of practicing the Seven Great Techniques, Zhuge Sa grumbled,

[ Normally, a transmission in foundational practice doesn’t require the instructor to guide every little detail. Because it’s assumed the learner has innate talent for the techniques, right? You get what I’m saying, you dullard.]

“I know I’m not talented!”

I retorted curtly.

“However, there’s a limit to what I can achieve without any guidance, so be quiet.”

[ You’ve sure convinced yourself that you’ve reached the heavenly realm with such self-comfort.]

That wasn’t worth responding to.

I ignored Zhuge Sa’s jibes, washed up, and organized myself before heading to meet the Master.

“I present myself to the Sect Leader.”

As I bowed in the audience chamber of the Master, he slowly rose from his seated position.

[ Baek Woong, Dharma Protector. Follow me.]

“Understood.”

Swish

Like before, the Master vanished with immense lightness, leading me to where I needed to go. I arrived at the garden where the Yung Hwa Tree was located. It appeared the Master intended to use this place as a training ground.

The Master spoke,

[ Starting today, we will begin the transmission and reinterpretation of the Seven Great Techniques. You must treat me with the utmost respect as your teacher and swear to always give your best in your training.]

“I swear!”

[ Then, tell me the key principles.]

“Understood.”

I started to explain the key principles of the Seven Great Techniques to the Master for an entire hour. It seemed he couldn’t memorize everything from my last session, and this time, he was concentrating on taking notes and memorizing calmly. Once he had a decent amount down, he remarked,

[ I don’t understand why the Muwsangpa (無雙覇) was created.]

“What?”

[ Just talking to myself.]

I felt puzzled. The Master’s earlier remark could be interpreted in many ways. Eventually, he listened to me interpret the key principles of the Seven Great Techniques again, which took another hour.

After that, the Master said,

[ Hmm… I don’t quite grasp it yet. I’ll need to train a bit to pick up on the points of the Three Treasures Decree.]

“Yes.”

[ Baek Woong, for today, you’ll train independently. From tomorrow onwards, don’t come to the audience chamber; come straight to the garden.]

“Wait…?!”

Whoosh!

With that, the Master vanished. Left alone in the Yung Hwa Tree garden, I was utterly bewildered.

“……”

Training independently from the first day? What on earth is going on?

Of course, it might just be a policy unique to the Master of the White Lotus Sect, but I couldn’t shake this feeling of discomfort. I didn’t know what the source of that discomfort was, but it gnawed at me with an unease that suggested potential danger lurking in my future. Yet, no matter how much I thought about it, it was difficult to find any special meaning behind the Master’s actions.

Zhuge Sa interjected,

[ Don’t think too complicated. How about just doing what you were told?]

“Hmm… that might be good.”

Now, Zhuge Sa was right. After all, the Master of the White Lotus Sect was the pinnacle of martial prowess, and one word from him regarding martial arts carried absolute credibility. It made more sense for an underling like me to just follow along rather than overthink things.

[ Huh? That’s not what I meant.]

“What do you mean then?”

[ You dense fool. You should be able to think that much on your own. ]

“Hey!”

I shouted in frustration, but this time Zhuge Sa seemed to refuse to respond. I wasn’t pleased with him at all, but for now, I decided to focus on my training. Without talent, my only option was to train diligently.

I spent several hours testing the Seven Great Techniques until the sun began to set. An Elder-level warrior arrived in the garden and informed me,

“Dharma Protector, your daily routines have concluded, so you may rest.”

“Understood.”

I returned to my lodging. Thanks to my robust internal strength, I didn’t need to sleep, so I recovered my energy through my practices at night, continuing my training of the Seven Great Techniques until dawn broke. With the rising sun, I freshened up and made my way back to the Yung Hwa Tree.

[ Dharma Protector. Please explain the key principles again.]

“Yes.”

Arriving at the Yung Hwa Tree, I began explaining the key principles to the Master once more for several hours. As I finished, he said,

[ You can come back tomorrow as well.]

“Yes?”

[ You may use any training place within the sect, so train sincerely on your own.]

“… Yes.”

Something feels off.

I sensed unease but decided to proceed as instructed. Regardless, the fact remained that the Master had chosen to be my teacher, so following his words felt appropriate. Thus, I continued to train by myself in a large training ground, refining all the martial skills I had learned.

After practicing diligently for about sixty days, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I spoke up to the Master,

“Master… if you’ve transmitted the Three Treasures Decree…”

Then the Master responded,

[ I’ve thought about it, and there’s an urgent task the Dharma Protector must undertake.]

“What?! ”

[ In the northwestern Daewi gorge, a cruel alien race has appeared, causing harm to the common folk. The Dharma Protector should go and rescue them to protect the sect members.]

“……”

[ You have been granted permission to use the Soul Command, so go.]

“Understood.”

As I distanced myself from the Master, a realization struck me hard.

‘ Still… he hasn’t properly mastered the Three Treasures Decree…’

If he had learned it sufficiently to apply it, there would’ve been no reason for him to keep calling me back like this for repetitive insights and interpretations. It became evident that the Master had been continuously practicing all this time, and his progress must be uncomfortably slow. The reason for sending me out now instead of providing the transmission of the Three Treasures Decree must be due to that sluggishness in his own mastery.

Zhuge Sa scratched at my insides.

[ Did you finally understand? You should have noticed it on the first day.]

[ What nonsense is that? How could the greatest master of the world possibly use his slow cultivation as an excuse?]

[ Hahaha.]

As I grew annoyed, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[ The Master of the White Lotus Sect’s level is indeed supreme, but you should’ve known his talent isn’t at the same tier. After all, shouldn’t this Cheong-Yun far exceed his talent?]

[ That doesn’t make sense. How can the supreme talent be less than the greatest master… ]

With my understanding of talents, I could not accept such a contradiction. I had no way to explain it with the principles of the martial arts I knew. Then Zhuge Sa said, intriguingly,

[ You’ve got far too many illusions about the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Or should I say, your admiration for the greatest master is excessive? To me, he seems like an individual with an insatiable appetite.]

[ Insatiable appetite?]

Zhuge Sa let out a snicker.

[ Hehe. Right now, it would be pointless to speculate, so just carry out the tasks assigned to you. Once you resurrect Cheong-Yun, everything should be clear.]