Reincarnation Sword God

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Heavenly Spirit Group, Infinite Internal Power!

The power I had worked so hard to obtain was now unleashed through the hands of three masters of the Spirit Lineage. The only reason I could think of for this was because they were engaged in a “strength battle” with Yong Bi-cheon at a comparable level.

In the past, when Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong faced off against Yong Bi-cheon, the situation was different. They had used the Three Treasure Technique to distort Yong Bi-cheon’s “power” and suppress him. That time, they had shattered his superiority with superior skills, but now it was purely a clash of strength against strength. This could only be acknowledged as the same Infinite Internal Power and Heavenly Spirit Group being displayed.

Naturally, no matter how much they called it the Heavenly Spirit Group, the amount of internal power they could output at once was limited. As the three owners of the Heavenly Spirit Group pressed forward together, Yong Bi-cheon immediately showed signs of being on the defensive. It seemed he thought he would be overpowered if things continued this way, and he shouted angrily.

[ Dokgo Jun, you coward! Let’s fight one-on-one! What kind of nonsense is this!!]

In response, Dokgo Jun replied with a dismissive tone,

[ I don’t mind, but the result would be the same. Don’t you already know?]

[ ……]

[ There’s nothing more boring than fighting a foregone conclusion.]

Wooooo—

As Dokgo Jun finished speaking, nine Water Dragons rose around him. They were the terrifying bursts of energy that had bombarded the entire slave market earlier. They possessed such fearsome power that it was hard to believe they were merely conjured water. Each dragon that fell carried the kind of destructive force comparable to Yong Bi-cheon’s wind attacks.

The mouths of the Water Dragons were aimed at the remaining masters of the Wind Spirit Lineage and the Golden Eagle Guard. Seeing this, I finally understood what Dokgo Jun meant by “the result would be the same.”

‘Even if Dokgo Jun rampages alone, he can bring those without Yong Bi-cheon to the brink of annihilation!’

Only those armed with the Heavenly Spirit Group could contend with it!

And if they couldn’t, they would have to surpass the infinite internal power through Jang Sam-bong’s transcendent techniques or attain enlightenment beyond that. Since there was no alternative present in the arena, the slaughter would begin the moment Dokgo Jun unleashed the Water Dragons with his infinite internal power.

It was also problematic that three Heavenly Spirit Group owners could team up to finish off Yong Bi-cheon. Dokgo Jun could simply watch as the situation unraveled.

Boom!

Yong Bi-cheon seemed to realize this fact and shook off the three members of the Spirit Lineage before gasping for breath.

“Gasp… huff…”

He then gritted his teeth and shouted,

“Dokgo Jun! If I surrender, can you spare the Wind Spirit Lineage?”

Murmurs…

Discontent stirred within the chamber. The masters of the Wind Spirit Lineage were shivering in powerlessness. The outcome had been decided before they even began to fight, and a terrifying sense of hopelessness engulfed them. However, since the Spirit Lineage possessed four Dharma Guardians, they couldn’t afford to rush in recklessly.

Dokgo Jun answered lightly,

[ I told you from the beginning. I came for you because you are the traitor…]

“Promise me.”

[ Fine. Since the Sect Leader has instructed that we avoid excessive bloodshed.]

As Dokgo Jun touched his fingers again, the three owners of the Heavenly Spirit Group returned behind him. It was a brief confrontation, but everyone in the chamber instinctively felt that everything was already over. Continuing to fight in this situation would simply be a suicide mission.

At that moment, the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard subtly began to withdraw, eyeing a way out. Realizing this, Dokgo Jun warned him,

[ Lord, do you think you can just leave as you please?]

“Ugh…”

The Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard made a startled expression and said with a cowardly laugh,

“Dharma Guardian of the Spirit Lineage. Please let this slide just this once. You came to capture your traitor, right?”

[ ……]

“Your leader doesn’t want to sever ties with us either…”

Bang!

That was the last utterance of the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard.

Dokgo Jun had already pointed his index finger at him, simultaneously blasting his head apart with a burst of energy. No matter how formidable the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard was as a top-tier master, being killed in an instant just by a point of a finger from Dokgo Jun was beyond comprehension.

Crack!

As the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard’s human life was snuffed out, his inner Demon began to go berserk, its tentacles flailing everywhere. The seed of the Otherworldly race had sprouted. But instead of being terrifying as it usually would be, the overwhelming energy of Dokgo Jun’s massive Water Dragons burst it apart dozens of times.

Thud thud thud…

[ He’s lost his mind.]

Seeing the remnants of the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard disperse into dust left me stunned. At the same time, I realized just how massive the gap was between a Dharma Guardian and a mere Lord. A current second-in-command of the White Lotus Sect could kill a lord like a bug without a second thought.

Then, a harsh command fell from Dokgo Jun’s lips.

[ Bind the Wind Spirit Lineage and kill all the Golden Eagle Guard.]

“Yes, sir!”

The Golden Eagles, despite the chaos resulting from their leader’s death, remained calm, drawing their weapons. They gritted their teeth and raised their spirits.

“Do you think we’ll go down without a fight?!”

But that was merely bravado. Whether the Golden Eagles tried to flee or fight, the outcome was already predetermined. Soon, the experts of the Spirit Lineage charged in, using their formidable internal power to shred them into pieces, spilling blood everywhere. It was as if a lion had jumped into a flock of sheep.

Boom!

“Gaaah!!”

“P-please, spare me…”

In an instant, dozens were smashed to bits, and the area became a mist of blood. The Spirit Lineage showed no mercy towards the Imperial Palace, which they regarded as an enemy. The disparity in power between the Spirit Lineage and the Golden Eagle Guard was like night and day.

Having forced Yong Bi-cheon to submit, Dokgo Jun looked at me and asked,

[ Baek Woong, Dharma Guardian. Have you securely retrieved all items from the slave market?]

I glanced around the scene. Yong Bi-cheon, along with the lined-up Wind Spirit Lineage, all seemed resigned, tied up, and kneeling. I swallowed hard and replied,

“Indeed…”

[ Let’s take a look.]

I showed Dokgo Jun the contents inside my necklace. After observing the contents for a moment, Dokgo Jun shook his head.

[ It’s still insufficient.]

“What do you mean? I’ve certainly collected everything that was there.”

[ There are no slaves.]

“……”

[ I expect you to gather and return them all.]

I felt a bit dazed as I looked at Dokgo Jun. I had only thought about the precious treasures and items that would come out of the slave market, but Dokgo Jun wanted me to treat slaves as “goods” to be collected too. The thought of treating people as items had never occurred to me, leaving me momentarily speechless.

‘Sigh, what can I do…’

“Understood.”

Reluctantly, I summoned the Hunting Dogs from the bracelet again and ordered them to find the slaves this time. The Hunting Dogs scattered once more, soon tracking down the slaves on the auction block. It took about half an hour to recover all the slaves using the Four Great Spirits again.

Looking over the condition of the slaves, Dokgo Jun remarked,

[ This should be sufficient. I’ll have the ledger returned, so let’s proceed back.]

“Shouldn’t the captured Wind Spirit Lineage go into the necklace as well?”

[ Of course.]

Thump!

After a while, I concluded my tasks and returned together with Dokgo Jun and the Spirit Lineage forces. What felt like a huge battle concluded rather easily, but it was unavoidable. No martial arts force on the surface could handle four Dharma Guardians.

[ I brought Yong Bi-cheon.]

[ Good work.]

As I arrived in front of the Sect Leader’s audience room, Yong Bi-cheon was kneeling three paces from the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader looked silently at Yong Bi-cheon from behind, then spoke.

[ Why did you align with the Imperial Palace?]

Yong Bi-cheon glared at the Sect Leader while kneeling and replied. Despite being on the brink of death, his audacity to face the Sect Leader signified he was no ordinary person.

“Sect Leader, I couldn’t endure your unilateral rule!”

[ Oh…]

The leader of the White Lotus Sect seemed intrigued. Though I couldn’t discern what he was truly thinking from his position in the back, it felt like the emotions he held were more curiosity than disdain or hostility.

[ Unilateral rule… You gained the Heavenly Spirit Group and acquired vast power, talent, and wealth through my assistance in emerging in the Central Plains. Did I particularly suppress your Wind Spirit Lineage? Yet you dare to name it betrayal with just that one word…?]

Flinch.

Yong Bi-cheon bit his lip in response to the Sect Leader’s words. He then gazed at the Sect Leader with even more intense eyes and retorted,

“I told Dokgo Jun this as well, but you’ve long turned the entire four great families of the White Lotus Sect into your private army. You claimed it was to oppose the Central Dynasty’s punitive forces, but that was complete nonsense. You yourself are an absolute deterrent to war, so why would you have to pull in sorcery and law all the time to enhance your power?”

[ Is that a bad thing? At least the White Lotus followers no longer fear the Central punitive forces. And the strength of the entire White Lotus has grown, which wouldn’t be bad for the Wind Spirit Lineage.]

“Damn…!!”

Yong Bi-cheon could no longer hold back and erupted in a growl.

“Had you at least explained what you wanted and what you were thinking, I wouldn’t have even contemplated betrayal! But you toyed with us for decades without explaining anything about the Heavenly Spirit Group or Woriyangshin!!”

[ ……]

“That unease of never knowing when I might be discarded was implanted by you, Sect Leader! You tyrant who lacks communication!”

Yong Bi-cheon’s eyes were now a fiery red.

“As the leader of the Wind Spirit Lineage, I had to make paths where I wouldn’t be discarded! Even now, I have no regrets about that decision!”

[ Is that so…]

The Sect Leader murmured. He then turned to me and asked,

[ Baek Woong. What do you think of Yong Bi-cheon’s words?]

“……”

What? Why is he asking me this at this juncture?

As I felt perplexed, Zhuge Sa within my mind said,

[ He’s just probing for boredom. Don’t give a firm answer, just brush it aside.]

I thought Zhuge Sa was right. So, after a moment of pondering, I answered,

“I’m not certain. Perhaps the Sect Leader’s intentions should hold more weight…”

[ My intentions… Do you know what my intentions are?]

The Sect Leader was adamantly grasping at my words. I responded rather brusquely,

“I believe only the Sect Leader would truly know.”

[ Ha ha ha…]

For some reason, the White Lotus Sect Leader, who had laughed cheerfully, seemed to turn his gaze back to Yong Bi-cheon. Then, in a solemn voice, he spoke.

[ Yong Bi-cheon. Since you’ve surrendered willingly, I’ll spare your entire family. However, you must face consequences for your crimes.

“What are you trying to do?”

[ A traitor like you will be executed instantly, and the Wind Spirit Lineage will all be demoted to the lowest tier of the sect. Consider it generous treatment.]

“Crgh…!”

Stomp!

The Sect Leader stepped forward. Wearing a mask without facial features, he felt somehow even more transparent than the last time I saw him. It was as if his aura was slowly bleaching away to be close to nothing. He existed before my eyes yet felt infinitely faint.

‘What’s going on?’

I instinctively sensed that the Sect Leader had achieved something significant. The Sect Leader slowly walked until he stood before Yong Bi-cheon, raising one hand and placing it on Yong Bi-cheon’s forehead. Yong Bi-cheon gazed back with eyes that seemed to have already resigned to death, looking like a fish on a chopping board.

The Sect Leader coldly said,

[ Since I gave it to you, I should take it back. Farewell, Yong Bi-cheon.]

Whoooosh!

In the next instant, a massive energy burst forth from Yong Bi-cheon’s forehead. In reality, an immense power was absorbed into the Sect Leader’s palm, akin to a volcanic eruption. After spewing forth brilliant rainbows for a long time, the massive power finally ceased after quite some time.

Yong Bi-cheon’s eyes lost their light. Although he appeared intact, he seemed hollowed, devoid of any energy. He finally fell to the side, lifeless, as every last bit of his energy had been drained.

“……!!”

As I observed that scene, I swallowed hard. The sight before me was unmistakable in meaning.

Absorption of the Heavenly Spirit Group!

It was possible for the Sect Leader to extract the essence of the Heavenly Spirit Group and reclaim it as his own! I had never imagined such a thing was possible, which left me breathless. Zhuge Sa, who had been watching intently, quietly remarked,

[ Fascinating. He completely extracted the connection to the divine and grafted it onto himself. Isn’t he worried about any side effects?]

[ What do you mean? Are there side effects?]

[ Of course. Ties to the divine mean there’s a thread of fate involved. Ripping that thread away and transferring it is a dangerous act, isn’t it? You’ll understand easily if you think about your own relationship with Ye Dong-bin.]

With that, Zhuge Sa continued,

[ Otherwise… it’s clear that there’s some secret to the state he achieved called Woriyangshin.]

[ ……]

It was right then. After exterminating Yong Bi-cheon and absorbing the Heavenly Spirit Group, the Sect Leader turned to look at me and said,

[ Now we must discuss rewards.]

“What do you mean by that…”

The Sect Leader casually issued a bombshell command.

[ I will bestow 30% of the slaves and treasures collected from the slave market to the Dharma Guardian Baek Woong of the Spirit Lineage. Furthermore, effective immediately, I will assign all members of the Wind Spirit Lineage, who have been demoted to the lowest tier, under your command.]

“……!!”

What on earth does this mean?!

As I struggled to mask my surprise, the Sect Leader left me with a piercing remark and vanished.

[ I hope the Spirit Lineage can quickly fill in the vacancies left by the Wind Spirit Lineage.]

“…….”

Dokgo Jun chuckled and said,

[ Congratulations.]

But I couldn’t feel all that cheerful. This was because I had read the Sect Leader’s intentions too clearly from that recent distribution of rewards.

The reason the Sect Leader purged the Wind Spirit Lineage – it surely signified a clear internal restructuring. Until now, he had left the Wind Spirit Lineage solo due to the presence of the enemy in the Imperial Palace, but now that my treasures had fallen into the Sect Leader’s hands, the situation changed. He believed the White Lotus Sect could confront the Imperial Palace without any need for the Wind Spirit Lineage’s power, hence he eradicated the traitor without hesitation.

Moreover, at the same time, he ensured that the seemingly empty Wind Spirit Lineage would be filled with mere decorations from the Spirit Lineage, thus firmly transforming the White Lotus Sect into his own personal army. With the Wind Spirit Lineage completely shattered, the tradition of the four great families that had been upheld even in form had utterly collapsed, and I was not in a position to defy the Sect Leader’s commands.

This made everything clear.

The Sect Leader would inevitably strike against the Imperial Palace soon.