Reincarnation Sword God

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00391 Celestial Realm ————————————————————————=

Swish!

As soon as the battle ended, the Sect Leader flew toward the Imperial Palace with terrifying speed using their martial arts. The Dharma Guardians followed closely behind, but I felt at a loss when I tried to use my own martial arts.

‘I can’t fly…’

Martial arts.

It literally means flying freely in the sky, and in the Martial Arts world, one hardly ever sees anyone using it. I thought it was just a fantasy from novels until I saw a Dharma Guardian with my own eyes, and it’s likely that over 99% of martial artists share the same perception. Watching a Peak Master like the Heavenly Sovereign or a person using Void Walking is like catching a star from the sky; how could anyone believe that a human could fly like a bird? Even top martial experts like Lee Kwang or the Sword Demon could only dream of martial arts and occasionally used variations of extreme techniques, like Heavenly Sovereign or Void Walking, in real combat.

But the Dharma Guardians and the Sect Leader could do it. With the Infinite Internal Power of the Heavenly Spirit Pill and Primordial Spirit, soaring through the sky would be of no issue. They could probably float in the sky all day if they wished.

The problem was that I couldn’t use the same martial arts techniques. I once asked the Sect Leader if I could learn martial arts, but to my disappointment, I was told that although my internal energy was sufficient, the supreme-level light body technique would take a significant amount of time to master. According to the Sect Leader, to use martial arts, one needs to be so skilled that they can effortlessly cast Extreme Slashing, Grass Skimming Technique, and Heavenly Sovereign.

I could use Soul Removal Technique, which gave me high speed and quality in light body techniques, but that was only possible because of the special properties of the Soul Removal Technique. The time I had spent training in pure body techniques and understanding was rather short, so while I could be called an expert, I certainly hadn’t reached the level of a master. Therefore, using martial arts was currently out of my reach.

With no choice, I had to run as fast as I could to the Imperial Palace. Although the capital, Luoyang, is where the Mokmun Bridge was located, it was quite some distance away, and I would have to run at least fifty li to reach the palace.

‘I could use the Four Great Spirits, but I want to see what’s happening along the way with my own eyes.’

Tydaht!

When I finally reached Luoyang’s inner city and looked toward the city gate, I saw the guards standing idly as if nothing was happening. Even though the Sect Leader and the Dharma Guardians had passed, there was surprisingly no notable change, and they continued their usual guard duties. I felt a bit dumbfounded thinking that there would be a reinforced guard system after such a commotion.

At that moment, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[ The speed of martial arts is incredibly fast. Who would believe that a figure could fly in from dozens of li away into the palace? It’s only natural.]

[ That is true, but…]

[ The Sect Leader and the Dharma Guardians are simply beyond human. You’ve been in the White Lotus Sect for a long time, so your standard for power has increased, but all of them are experts of another level.]

[ ……]

I shook my head vigorously and cast the Soul Removal Technique. As the guards’ attention momentarily shifted, I was able to leap over several layers of walls and make my way directly into the inner palace. I quickly sensed the aura within the Imperial Palace, but strangely, I didn’t feel the presence of the Golden Eagle Guard.

‘Hmm. Even though it was said that the agents led by the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard were annihilated by the Su Shin Sect, they should have been able to replenish their numbers quickly… But maybe they figured that merely filling the numbers would be useless.’

Normally, there should have been warriors or members of the Golden Eagle Guard swarming to protect the inner palace, but currently, there were no genuine Peak Experts present. I was able to sneak past with ease to the palace where the Emperor was staying.

Swish!

Upon arriving at the front of the palace, there stood a line of Su Shin Sect experts wearing hats. It seemed the Sect Leader had already released them from their wooden armor.

‘Has the Sect Leader already gone in?’

When I glanced at them, the one at the front spoke up.

[ Dharma Guardian Baek Woong. The Sect Leader has commanded you to come inside.]

“What do you plan to do?”

[ What do you think? We’ll be cleaning up the inside under the Sect Leader’s orders.]

Cleaning up.

That surely meant massacring every living thing in the Imperial Palace. It undoubtedly meant that hundreds or thousands of lives would be lost in vain.

There were about twenty Su Shin Sect experts in front of me. No one currently at the palace could stop them. Even if the True Heaven Alliance’s combat forces were present, could they possibly stop the twenty experts in front of me? I frowned and spoke to him.

“Stop it.”

[ What do you mean? This is the Sect Leader’s order. How dare you…]

I bit my teeth and replied,

“I’ll take full responsibility. Stop it. If you choose to slaughter the humans of the Imperial Palace, I won’t simply stand by.”

I couldn’t stay idle. It was clear that the Imperial Palace folks were at the forefront of the human sacrifices and the root of evil, but the ones responsible for carrying out those deeds were the upper echelons under the Golden Eagle Guard and the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace. Most of those left in the palace were innocent people who had no idea what was happening. There was no reason for them to suddenly be slaughtered by the Su Shin Sect.

[ ……]

His eyes glinted. At that moment, I sensed that glint was an alien ‘something’ distinct from that of a human. An unfathomably chilling and eerie aura rushed towards me, different from any ordinary killing intent. He stepped forward and sent me the Six Harmonies Assembly.

[ I am the elder of the Su Shin Sect, and I rank fifth among them—Dokgo Woo. Not long ago, I, along with other elders, suppressed Yongbi-cheon at the slave market. I believe the Dharma Guardian was there too.]

“Hmm…”

I let out a low sound.

That’s right. The person standing in front of me, Elder Dokgo Woo, was one of the three who possessed the Heavenly Spirit Pill. It goes without saying that despite being an elder of the Su Shin Sect, Dokgo Woo could just as well be classified as a Level Peak Master.

If I were to fight Dokgo Woo one-on-one, my chances of losing would be high. What a fucked-up situation, but this guy also possessed Infinite Internal Power.

‘Damn it. Why does the Su Shin Sect have so many monsters?’

I grumbled inwardly. At that moment, Zhuge Sa spoke up irritably.

[ Stop pretending to be a great hero. Why would the Imperial Palace’s folks intervene for you? If you fight and lose to Dokgo Woo, you won’t be able to lift your face within the Sect thereafter.]

He was right. No matter how nominally I was a Dharma Guardian, if I got crushed fighting a mere elder of the Su Shin Sect, it would be embarrassing. But I gathered my thoughts and said to Dokgo Woo,

“Dokgo Woo. I’m not saying this for nothing. It’s for the benefit of our White Lotus Sect.”

[ Benefit? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.]

I strained my brain and continued.

“Among the Imperial Palace folks, there may be those with deep connections to otherworldly races or nobility. There might be information they hold that could greatly help our Sect in the future. For example, that thing… the Shangguan Family?”

In the end, my mention of the Shangguan Family was a weak reference based on the guise of Shangguan Zheng I had used at the slave market.

‘Oh crap! Did I say that too carelessly?’

It certainly felt like something anyone could say. As my heart raced, when I looked at Elder Dokgo Woo, to my surprise, he ceased emitting his formless Qi. After thinking for a while, he finally spoke to me.

[ What do you know about the Shangguan Family?]

“Um… well…”

As I struggled to answer somewhat appropriately, Zhuge Sa quickly interjected.

[ Hey. This won’t do. Just say what I tell you.]

[ Huh? You’re going to help?]

[ Since it’s come to this, I won’t let you mess it up, so I’ll clean it up for you. Damn it.]

Though Zhuge Sa cursed, I couldn’t retort in any way. Thus, I had no choice but to respond as he instructed.

“The Shangguan Family has been playing a considerable role as the Sect Leader’s secret network. Can you identify the members of the Shangguan Family within the Imperial Palace? If we’re not careful, we might lose a significant information asset.”

[ Hmm… that’s a dilemma. Why would you come all the way here to say this…]

“Think carefully!”

[ W-Wait a moment.]

Upon hearing my scolding, Dokgo Woo seemed flustered as if struck by lightning.

‘Huh?’

I found it puzzling. Zhuge Sa’s words seemed almost like a wild guess, yet Dokgo Woo was reacting in an oddly panicked manner. After hesitating for a while, Dokgo Woo finally said,

[ Understood… Quickly go inside and tell the Sect Leader that incantation. Again, remember that our halt is entirely due to your responsibility as a Dharma Guardian.]

“Don’t worry.”

[ It’ll be no more than half a moment. If the order inside does not change, we will do what we must.]

Elder Dokgo Woo turned away. I thought I could breathe a sigh of relief as I dashed into the Imperial Palace.

Tydaht!

As I leaped into the Imperial Palace, I asked Zhuge Sa,

[ Zhuge Sa! I’ve been curious since last time, but is the Shangguan Family really as close to the Sect Leader’s secret network?]

[ Hmph… I don’t know either. I just went along with what you said. There’s no concrete evidence that the Shangguan Family is the Sect Leader’s secret network, only mere suspicion.]

[ Huh? Then why did you suddenly intervene…]

[ Because it was clear that you were losing confidence rapidly.]

Zhuge Sa continued curtly.

[ The way you talk has a huge impact. If you’re fumbling and making stuff up because you don’t know what to say, would Elder Dokgo Woo believe you? Being shamelessly bold is what makes a bluff work.]

[ Ah…]

[ Damn it. Get used to thinking quickly. If it were Hyun, he would have tricked Dokgo Woo twice as skillfully than what you just did.]

Was this guy actually trying to look out for me?

I found Zhuge Sa’s intentions confusing. While I was lost in thought, I had reached the innermost part, where the Emperor’s throne was located.

The throne had the Master of the White Lotus Sect seated on it, with Han Baek-ryeong and Dokgo Jun standing beside him. Before the Sect Leader lay the decapitated Emperor, who had been brutally torn apart. Behind the Emperor, a blood vein shaped like a human figure was engraved on the wall, and tentacles were squirming out from it.

‘That must be the Alchemist. Crushed into the wall by the force.’

I didn’t need to see what had happened; it was all too obvious. With regret, I spoke to the Sect Leader.

“It would have been better if you had left them alive to gather information.”

[ I would have liked that, but they attempted to use suspicious sorcery, so there was no choice. I couldn’t subdue them without killing…]

As the Sect Leader replied, he looked at me and said,

[ Baek Woong. Why did you stop them?]

Has he sensed what’s happening outside from the innermost palace? The sensing ability of the Primordial Spirit was indeed transcendent compared to humans. Since I was not surprised, I replied to the Sect Leader.

“Sect Leader. There may be individuals in the Imperial Palace with valuable information. If we rush into a massacre, there’s a high possibility we might lose that information.”

[ Are you suggesting we proceed with caution?]

“Yes. Unnecessary slaughter is ill-advised.”

At that, the Sect Leader suddenly laughed.

[ Hahaha… You really are an entertaining fellow. Everyone fears me and dares not directly oppose my will, yet here you are, coming to persuade me!]

I spoke boldly, adopting a defiant attitude, thinking of Zhuge Sa’s previous words.

“Go ahead, kill me if you like. I already told you before.”

[ Hahahaha.]

The Sect Leader laughed heartily, as if something greatly amused him. After his laughter subsided, he waved his hand.

[ Do as you wish. If that’s the case, establishing a puppet to control from behind wouldn’t be a bad idea.]

It seemed he originally intended to be the Emperor himself. I sighed inwardly and replied humbly,

“Thank you very much.”

The Sect Leader looked at Dokgo Jun.

[ Jun, lead the forces outside.]

[ Yes, my Lord.]

[ Moreover, you should choose a suitable candidate from among the Imperial Clan of Luoyang and place them on the throne. That task is entrusted to you.]

Hearing the Sect Leader’s command, Dokgo Jun bowed his head.

[ Understood.]

[ I sense a powerful magical aura from within. Should we venture deeper?]

The Sect Leader stood up. In the blink of an eye, the Sword Form vanished. I was left stunned without knowing what to do when Dokgo Jun passed by me and spoke.

[ Baek Woong, Dharma Guardian.]

“What is it?”

[ I find you an interesting person as well.]

“……”

[ Follow the Sect Leader. I feel that your presence will be helpful somehow.]

Clap!

Once Dokgo Jun left, I had no choice but to follow the Sect Leader. It seemed Han Baek-ryeong had nothing to discuss with me and simply followed after Dokgo Jun.

Zhuge Sa advised me as I dashed along.

[ Now, the things the White Lotus Sect can salvage from the Imperial Palace would be the Crystal Stele, the Divine Portrait making facilities, and the National Seal. If only there were an Alchemist, there would have been many ways to utilize them, but it’s unfortunate.]

[ The Sect Leader can probably find the Crystal Stele and the Divine Portrait making facilities alone. But should I mention the National Seal to the Sect Leader?]

So, Zhuge Sa replied nonchalantly,

[ Why would you tell him that? Just take it for yourself.]

[ There’s no way to open the barrier door right now.]

I honestly expressed my feelings. I had heard that the labyrinth barrier sealing the National Seal in the underground palace was not created by humans but by gods directly. Only a superhuman sorcerer like the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin or the Earth Immortal Mangnyang could potentially break the barrier. At that moment, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[ Fool. That barrier is hidden underground, so even the Sect Leader wouldn’t be able to find it today. Plus, the Emperor and the Alchemist are both dead, right? So just keep a low profile and have a look. The Sect Leader would probably lose his mind just at the sight of the Crystal Stele.]

As expected, just as Zhuge Sa said, I spotted the Sect Leader ahead as he approached the Crystal Stele. He seemed tremendously pleased upon seeing the Crystal Stele, showing no intention of continuing to search the Imperial Palace.

‘Well, I only learned about the underground barrier after hearing about the National Seal…’

Since the Sect Leader hadn’t caught on, I could wait for an opportunity to break the barrier and retrieve the National Seal later. The Sect Leader appeared to be in high spirits after discovering the Crystal Stele and the Divine Portrait making facilities. He called the Dharma Guardians gathered within the palace and proclaimed,

[ The Imperial Palace is now under our control. Within a year, the entire Central Plains will come under the influence of our Sect.]

“Congratulations!”

[ Zhuge Yulong of the Vermilion Bird surely did not expect to lose to me. Perhaps that’s why he called forth an Apostle but was unable to summon a God…]

The Sect Leader muttered to himself and then said,

[ I no longer hesitate. From now on, I will knock down the Twelve Joules and find all the techniques of the Non-Birth Mother.]

I was curious, so I asked the Sect Leader,

“Why do you seek all the techniques, Sect Leader?”

[ Are you really curious?]

“Yes.”

[ What do you think I’m searching for them?]

I replied as if it were obvious.

“To obtain the power of absolute invincibility, right?”

At that, the Sect Leader laughed.

[ Hehehe… That’s merely the outcome; it is the process I seek.]

“What do you mean…”

Leaning back in his throne, the Sect Leader leisurely replied.

[ When all techniques gather, the path of brightness brings about True Martial. And True Martial cannot be achieved in our current world. For that, the enlightenment of techniques is needed, and the world must cycle for a moment.]

A moment?

This was something I hadn’t heard when I previously learned about the principles of the White Lotus Sect alongside Mangnyang. It seemed the Sect Leader had opened up a little since he recognized me for fighting together during the assault on the Imperial Palace. I, not comprehending it, asked again,

“Why is True Martial necessary? If you ascend beyond the Primordial Spirit to the realm of the invincible, you would become immortal, so why gather techniques? That sounds nearly impossible…”

[ No matter how divine one becomes, there will always be a higher level above. Baek Woong, you seem to know nothing at all.]

With that, the Sect Leader spoke leisurely,

[ Don’t doubt; simply follow. The future of humanity lies in practicing True Martial, at the moment when Maitreya abolishes the cycle of reincarnation.]

At that moment, I felt a realization.

The Sect Leader would never be satisfied with conquering the Central Plains.