Reincarnation Sword God

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What does this mean?

As I cautiously regarded Lee Cheong-un’s unexpected words, he continued, “First of all, I know you lack talent, but you are resolute in will and spirit, and you are not a wicked person. If you were arrogant, cruel, and unworthy, formidable heroes like Mangnyang and Sword Demon wouldn’t have rallied around you. The fact that you have built a force around you to fight shows you have considerable capability.”

Lee Cheong-un, who had just assessed me, spoke nonchalantly, “However, that’s different from the True State of Martial Arts. No matter what, you cannot achieve the Thunder God Spirit.”

“Why not?” I asked, feeling a wave of indignation rising within me.

“You lack talent,” he stated straightforwardly.

The words hit me like a ton of bricks.

Lack of talent!

I had been hearing that for over a century! You would think I’d grow accustomed to it over time. Yet, now as I confront this core aspect of my being, it pained me. But given that I was in front of an absolute master of martial arts, the leading figure of the Thunder God Lineage, arguing about it felt futile. I forced out, “I have tried! For over a hundred years….”

“I know you have trained for quite some time, perhaps even longer than I did,” Lee Cheong-un acknowledged.

“I have mastered most of the ultimate techniques of the Thunder God Lineage!” I insisted.

He nodded, “That’s true. Even during the peak of the Thunder God Lineage, there were few who possessed as many ultimate techniques as you do. While you may not be a practitioner yet, you certainly qualify as a veteran or protector of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Now that I have laid the foundation to challenge for the Thunder God Spirit, why…?”

He paused for a moment and then said, “Hmm… You have revived me and dedicated considerable effort to the Thunder God Lineage over the years. Out of appreciation for that effort, I’ll explain the Thunder God Spirit to you. After all, you’re not an outsider, so sit right there.”

I sat down in the dim light of the mine as directed. Lee Cheong-un, sitting across from me, began to speak.

“You have gathered a lot of information about the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God Lineage. And you’ve realized that the ultimate realm called ‘Martial Soul’ is what we refer to as the Thunder God Spirit.”

“Yes.”

“Then let me ask you this: Why do you think the Thunder God Lineage pursues the ultimate Martial Soul that transcends human martial arts instead of finding a suitable compromise like the Wind God or Fire God Lineages? If they established an ultimate technique at a reasonable level, wouldn’t the flow of martial arts stabilize?”

“Hmm…”

This was something I had also pondered. I’ve heard that the other Four Great Styles all have their ultimate techniques, so why did only the Thunder God Lineage develop an incomplete ultimate technique throughout the ages? Even Lee Kwang seemed to only have heard about it and didn’t truly understand the reason. After deliberation, I replied, “I don’t know.”

“Well, that’s because they encountered the Martial God,” he explained.

“……?”

The sudden remark made me tilt my head in confusion.

Martial God?

That name rang a bell somewhere in my mind. As I racked my brain, it suddenly came back to me.

[I’ve always enjoyed training because I’ve heard the stories of that outsider. I think I will meet that Martial God someday.]

[Could it be that you have met the Martial God? Did he appear before you as well?]

[Ah, yes. I consider it a blessing.]

Jin So-cheong, Yeodong-bin, and Master of the White Lotus Sect. They were all absolute masters of martial arts I had encountered, and they had each mentioned him at least once. When I realized this, Lee Cheong-un added, “It seems that among your memories, those three have encountered the Martial God. And they were indeed qualified to meet him.”

“What exactly is this Martial God?” I asked.

“Quite literally, it is the God of Martial Arts. Often regarded as a fantasy, those who transcend and go beyond the absolute, or those who are worthy of such transcendence, get to meet this being.”

“……!!”

My eyes widened in surprise. “Are you saying there exists a divine being that governs the pure realm of martial arts?!”

I could hardly fathom that notion. Thus far, every divine presence I had encountered were either celestial beings or ancient rulers, who were merely powerful entities. I had never thought there could be a transcendent being dealing with the vast, ambiguous concept of Martial Arts. I stammered, “Th-That’s hard to believe…”

Lee Cheong-un nodded, “The martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage actually reached its peak five generations ago. Even compared to the myriad martial arts of Jianghu, they could overpower most of them. Only the demon martial artists faced any feasible challenge from the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Yes, that’s true,” I willingly admitted.

“The Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts are indeed exceptional.”

Except for the Overlay-level experts like Yeodong-bin and Zhang Sanfeng from the Sword Union, the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage are undoubtedly at the pinnacle. The moment I started properly practicing it, my growth accelerated tremendously, and aside from a few exceptional masters, I hadn’t seen a martial art more intricate than that.

Other martial arts from the various Seven Great Sects merely came at me as a form of pressure; it was impossible for the martial arts of the Central Plains or Five Great Families to rival the Thunder God Lineage. Could the founder of the ancient martial arts, Muyoungmun, stand as competition?

Although there is a gap in the pure martial art levels, the techniques themselves were unmatched. Given the vastness of Jianghu, that is quite an astonishing feat!

Regardless of sword, spear, or saber, each harbored the essence of millennia of history and the ultimate martial arts!

Even now, despite the Thunder God Lineage being somewhat in decline, the martial prowess of the Thunderbolt Three Saints, Lee Kwang, and Dokgo Seong attests to this. The martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage are undoubtedly hands down the supreme martial art!

Lee Cheong-un continued, “Before the Five Generations, the Four Ancestors sought to reach beyond the Realm of Intent through cultivating the Thunder God Lineage. However, upon hitting a wall, they encountered the Martial God. The Martial God showed the path of transcendent martial arts and informed the Four Ancestors of a realm called ‘Martial Soul.’ From then on, practitioners of the Thunder God Lineage made unceasing efforts to achieve Martial Soul.”

“I see.”

“That realm is one of fantasy. Just surpassing the Realm of Intent is superhuman, but how could mere humans possibly imagine the world of martial arts beyond that? Hence, practitioners of the Thunder God Lineage felt the need to create a stepping stone for that bridge.”

That must be the Thunder God Spirit.

As I listened in silence, Lee Cheong-un spoke calmly, “Baek Woong. Do you understand?”

“What are you saying?”

He spoke firmly, “Practitioners of the Thunder God Lineage are born with heavenly talent. They become martial geniuses after decades of training. What they have created is the realm of Thunder God Spirit. Hence, the Thunder God Spirit is, at its core, created for and by geniuses!”

“……!!”

“Because the study of Martial Soul is a mission that only practitioners of the Thunder God Lineage can inherit. The entrance requirement must be genius.”

Muttering to himself, Lee Cheong-un looked a bit bitter as he continued, “Do you understand now why the Secrets of the Thunder God Spirit have been distorted into incomprehensible incantations? It is because the realization is so expansive that it has encoded and compressed dozens of advanced insights. Each insight is at a level that would take a normal person their entire life to study. It is something that would only be understood by a genius who emerges once in a generation; thus, no one else can interpret or even enter it. Do you understand?”

I got it.

There were said to be four or five peerless experts who surpassed the Thunderbolt Three Saints during the peak of the Thunder God Lineage. With a level of mastery akin to the sword lightning (Sword Thunder), just reaching such a level would likely mean being comparable to or even surpassing the Sword God Namgung Jo.

Lee Cheong-un, who became the leader of the Thunder God Lineage after breaking through that competition, possessed a genius so exceptional that even history’s legendary figures felt inferior and awed. Even the Master of the White Lotus Sect didn’t think he could defeat Lee Cheong-un on his own, partnering with Dokgo Jun for assistance.

Thus, I could accept Lee Cheong-un’s explanation without the slightest doubt. He was not boasting; he, as the greatest expert of the Thunder God Lineage, was merely stating the unadulterated truth. Yet, deep down, I found it difficult to reconcile with my own feelings.

“If it’s about lifespan, it might be impossible. But since I reincarnated, I could train for hundreds of years to master the Thunder God Spirit!”

“True, but even if you train for a hundred years, you may still not measure up to Jin So-cheong’s one year of training.”

“……”

“You have already felt the gap of talent through the example of the Three Treasures Technique.”

I was at a loss for words when confronted with such a reality check. Lee Cheong-un sighed.

“This is out of concern for you. You have managed to raise your cultivation level through various skills, teachings, and coincidences, even without talent. You might have reached the peak of the Realm of Intent, but beyond that, the level of difficulty increases exponentially. There have been many times I have been awestruck by the horrifying difficulty of mastering the Thunder God Spirit.”

“B-but…”

“How terrifying it is to chase after an unachievable dream forever? Being able to give up along the way would be considered a blessing. You’ve been through endless reincarnations over hundreds of years, struggling to comprehend an indecipherable martial art. How much confidence and self-esteem do you think you have lost in the process?”

“Ugh.”

“Even Jin So-cheong couldn’t master the Thunder God Spirit in less than ten years. I stake my name on that.”

His words were incredibly persuasive.

Even now, I hadn’t managed to fully grasp the Three Treasures Technique and was anxiously awaiting the interpretation from the Master. What about trying to understand the Thunder God Spirit, which would be many times harder? The sheer mental strain involved in struggling through hundreds of years of attempts was unimaginable. I’d probably lose my mind completely.

Lee Cheong-un spoke gently, “You have many means to grow stronger beyond simply relying on martial arts. Don’t you agree? From what I see, no matter how I think about it, the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God Lineage isn’t your path. You should give up.”

“……”

Zhuge Sa, who had been quietly listening, chimed in, [He is absolutely right. Lee Cheong-un is a genuinely good person. Normally, he would just hurl obligatory techniques or give you some shallow advice to gain clout.]

[Lee Kwang would have done just that.]

[Just listen to him. In my opinion, something like the Ultimate Technique of the Thunder God Lineage is simply unattainable for humans.]

Silence enveloped me.

Deep in my heart, I wanted to vehemently deny that statement. I still yearned to push on, and felt the urge to challenge anyone who tried to dictate my journey. However, I couldn’t argue against the fact that their judgments were correct and that they had shown concern for me. Not wanting to concede, I bit my lip tightly and said, “You understand my current predicament, right?”

“I do.”

“I have almost everything taken from me by the Master of the White Lotus Sect under the pretense that I am a disciple and protector. I am essentially imprisoned by the White Lotus Sect.”

Lee Cheong-un stared at me quietly. I met his gaze firmly and said, “I desperately need your assistance, Lee Cheong-un. Please help me.”

“……”

Hwa-rak

The torch hanging on the mine’s wall flickered. After a moment of silence, Lee Cheong-un said, “Since you are a reincarnated individual, it is only right for me to assist you.”

That statement felt odd.

‘Huh?’

Why would he help me just because I am a reincarnation? He didn’t owe me any special loyalty. But whether I found it strange or not, he continued, “However, I would like to choose the means. Firstly, I wish to meet my disciple and share my encounters over the years. There are things I want to impart to Gwang Yi. It’s not wise to confront the Master of the White Lotus Sect head-on just yet.”

“Absolutely, but first please tell me…” I was suddenly struck with a burst of motivation.

“The method to obtain the Thunder Spirit, and what exactly happened that day fifty years ago!”

“So that’s what you want to ask,” he said.

“Yes. To be honest, that’s the reason I revived you, Lee Cheong-un.”

“Of course I will share that. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for me to return to life,” Lee Cheong-un replied slowly.

“Even if I tell you, will it be of any great meaning?”

“……?”

Obtaining the method for the Thunder Spirit or the events from fifty years ago would be tremendously significant to me. Why then was he so skeptical?

As I pondered, Lee Cheong-un opened his mouth, “First, let me teach you how to obtain the Thunder Spirit.”

Finally!

Finally, I could learn about the secret of the Infinite Inner Power, the Thunder Spirit!

I was so overcome with anticipation and tension that I could hardly breathe. After decades—no, over a hundred years—I was about to uncover a secret!

“The ceremony presided over by the Master of the White Lotus Sect requires demonstrating the martial arts of the various Four Great Styles for three consecutive days and nights. Toward the end of that ceremony, a final pledge is made with an entity of darkness.”

“A pledge?”

“Perhaps it would be better to call it an oath.”

Lee Cheong-un murmured, “As if some unknown, profane phrase brushing against my soul at the center of the world. At the same time, a connection would form with something residing far away, pledging my allegiance to that darkness.”

“……?”

“After that oath is completed, you shall obtain the Thunder Spirit.”

What is this?! I understood the need to pledge with the dark entity, but the content of that pledge was utterly incomprehensible. I tilted my head in confusion while sorting through the words.

“So, the Master’s assistance is necessary, and I must learn the martial arts of the priesthood.”

“Exactly. And when it comes to that matter, Baek Woong, you are closer to the Thunder Spirit than anyone else.”

Hearing this from Lee Cheong-un lifted my gloomy spirits a little. After all, this sounded like I might eventually obtain the Thunder Spirit while still acting as the protector of the Thunder God Lineage! As I felt joy bloom within me, Lee Cheong-un continued, “Now I must tell you about what happened fifty years ago.”

“Please!”

“……”

“……?”

Suddenly, Lee Cheong-un began to speak but was cut off by silence. I looked at him in confusion, and he seemed to be deep in thought. Then Lee Cheong-un said, “Baek Woong, before I tell this story, I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

Once again, I felt flustered by the follow-up question.

“Can you forgive Lee Kwang?”

“……!!”

“This answer is what I need to tell you about that day.”

What should I do?

In truth, this question lodged itself within my mind as well. For a long time, I knew I would need to confront Lee Kwang, but due to his multifaceted actions that I had witnessed, I couldn’t sum it up with just one word. My emotions were a jumble of love and hate, making it hard to simply attack him without thought.

Likewise, I knew that Lee Kwang was also his disciple.

After pondering carefully, I sincerely replied, “I will show Lee Kwang all my memories through the obsidian. Then, after hearing his genuine intentions, I will decide. It will not be up to me but depend on Lee Kwang’s response.”

For now, that was the best approach. Whether to kill or spare him would follow after. Lee Cheong-un then smiled wryly.

“Hmmm… You definitely have a nature that doesn’t match well with Gwang Yi.”

“I’ve felt that way for a hundred years.”

“Haha!”

Lee Cheong-un threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Then I shall tell you. What happened that day…”