Reincarnation Sword God

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00414 The Celestial Realm ————————————————————————

Let’s go to the Shaolin Temple in Songshan with Cheon Woo-jin. I immediately felt that this place was different from other Heavenly Altars.

The pure and majestic flow of spiritual energy surged flawlessly!

Human emotions honed along the great dragon veins had brought spiritual stability to the Shaolin Temple. It was incomparable to the Imperial Palace, which had been tainted by the Evil God, or the ominous energy accumulating within the White Lotus Sect. Just standing still and breathing in the clear air felt like a refreshing wash against the evil aura, leaving me in awe.

“I never felt this way before…”

Zhuge Sa explained it to me.

[Your spiritual energy has significantly amplified, allowing you to feel the purity of the spiritual energy. The Shaolin Temple is one of the most famed spiritual grounds in the Central Plains, so it’s only natural that you can feel it dramatically.]

Cheon Woo-jin and I stood near the Heavenly Altar in Songshan and observed its structure. Cheon Woo-jin swept his hand over the stele and said,

“It’s well-maintained. Not a single ancient technique has been damaged.”

“What do you mean? Damaged?”

“You didn’t know? Unlike here, the Heavenly Altar on Mount Tai has been distorted and damaged. Probably because the Vermilion Bird was spying on the Celestial Realm through the altar.”

After pondering over Cheon Woo-jin’s words, I replied,

“Wait a minute. You’re also an expert who stands equal to… No, far surpasses Zhuge Yulong. So you could also distort the Heavenly Altar stele to eavesdrop on the Celestial Realm’s information…”

“It’s true that I’m stronger than Zhuge Yulong, but I can’t match his expertise in the Eight Trigrams art. The way he manipulated the Heavenly Altar’s techniques is extremely precise and difficult; it’s not something you can imitate overnight.”

As he spoke, Cheon Woo-jin continued,

“The Sincere Master will arrive soon. Prepare yourself.”

I stretched out my sensory perception, but it didn’t seem like there was a Sincere Master nearby. Thus, Cheon Woo-jin must have sensed a much broader range and deduced where the Sincere Master was from there. It struck me anew just how incredible his divine ability was.

Swish—

Finally, the Sincere Master burst into the forest accompanied by three high monks of the Ming character rank. Upon spotting us, he appeared surprised and exclaimed,

“Amitabha… Divine Beings have come!”

I stepped forward and bowed to Grand Master Myung-ho.

“Grand Master Myung-ho, I am Baek Woong, the Deputy Leader of the White Lotus Sect.”

“……!!”

I could feel the shock in the three high monks beside the Sincere Master. In particular, the monk named Myungjeong, whom I had seen before, was so taken aback that his composure was clearly disrupted. Unable to contain himself, he spoke up.

“This is unbelievable… How could the Demon Invader come this far?!”

“Let’s drive him away at once!”

“I’ll call the disciples…”

As the high monks panicked, the Sincere Master admonished them loudly.

“Be quiet!”

Rumble—

In that moment, I thought an earthquake had struck. The Sincere Master’s internal power was so immense that it shook the very earth. Realizing that his power was hardly inferior to my own left me in awe. The fortuitous encounter that I had gained was on par with his! Indeed, the Shaolin Temple’s True Sect Mastery was formidable.

Calming his disciples, he spoke softly,

“What is your purpose for coming to the Heavenly Altar? You seem to be waiting for us.”

“Indeed. We came to see you rather than the Heavenly Altar.”

“What business does a White Lotus Sect member have with me?”

I pointed to Cheon Woo-jin beside me and said,

“This is the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin, the direct disciple of Master Mangnyang.”

“Hmm!”

“We come at the behest of Master Mangnyang. It is a very urgent and serious matter, so please allow others to vacate the premises.”

“……”

The Sincere Master appeared deep in thought for a moment. Then, he said,

“Myungjeong, Myungwoo, Myungjin! Return and wait.”

“But Senior…”

“Don’t worry. They did not come here to fight. If they had intended to, we would have already been dead by now.”

“…Understood.”

Once the three monks disappeared from the hall, Cheon Woo-jin spoke to the Sincere Master.

“I apologize for coming without receiving a divine vision from the Master. However, the matter is so grave that we had no choice but to hurry using the Spirit Beast.”

“Hmm… I believe you are indeed the Master’s disciple. Such remarkable magical power you possess…”

The Sincere Master, who had been admiring him, questioned,

“What on earth has happened?”

Cheon Woo-jin replied in a slightly somber tone,

“The worst possible situation we could anticipate has occurred. Recently, the White Lotus Sect seized Luoyang, significantly heightening the risk of the God’s seal being undone, prompting the Celestial Realm to urgently order the Southern Flower Immortal to annihilate the White Lotus Sect. However, the Master of the White Lotus Sect even repelled the Great Immortal, and ultimately, the Celestial Realm’s Three Pure Ones have commanded the reinstallation of the Heavenly Ladder.”

Cheon Woo-jin continued to explain the events in more detail. It was more persuasive when I, claiming to be the Deputy Leader of the White Lotus Sect, remained silent.

“……!!”

The Sincere Master stiffened, appearing quite shaken by the news. It seemed that even a monk of his caliber was taken aback, and he struggled to find words. Then, relaxing his shoulders, he lamented,

“How could this happen… I thought such things would never occur since the Mythological Age…”

Mumbling as if in a daze, the Sincere Master turned his gaze toward me.

“You said you are the Deputy Leader of the White Lotus Sect. What is the reason for your presence?”

Clearing my throat, I replied,

“I am the master of the Moon Sovereign and was commanded by the Celestial Realm to monitor the White Lotus Sect and the Master of the Twelve Joules. However, the situation has spiraled into such peril that I can no longer manage it myself. I ask for your assistance without shame.”

“The Master of the Seven Luminaries!”

“Make it easier to believe.”

Woo—

I drew upon the power of the Moon Sovereign and summoned it. As the Three Divine Tools circled around me, the Sincere Master finally muttered as if understanding.

“When the guest quells the hatred today, this was the meaning…”

“……?”

“I had vaguely heard news of you, but this is the first time seeing you in person.”

“Can you help me?”

“Hmm…”

The Sincere Master seemed to be gathering his feelings for a while. Then, he looked at Cheon Woo-jin and continued,

“When did this begin?”

“It was decided yesterday in the Divine Assembly of the Celestial Realm.”

“Then, in 49 days, everything will come to a conclusion. How can the Deputy Leader assist?”

Huh?

Upon hearing his words, I could no longer hold back and asked the Sincere Master,

“Do you know what the Heavenly Ladder is? And what does 49 days mean?”

“……”

The Sincere Master glanced at Cheon Woo-jin. Cheon Woo-jin sighed and spoke to the Sincere Master.

“This one does not understand what the Celestial Ladder is. However, he is filled with a strong sense of justice and is reliable, so the Master entrusted this grand task to him. Unfortunately, he was too pressed for time and couldn’t explain it properly.”

“I see. Then I will explain to Baek Woong.”

The Sincere Master explained slowly,

“The Heavenly Altar is the place where the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors severed the connection between Heaven and Earth.”

“I know that. And I’m aware that the current Heavenly Altar has lost its function and become irrelevant.”

“More precisely, this Heavenly Altar is a device left behind for the Celestial Realm to intervene directly in the human realm during emergencies.”

What?

Startled by this unexpected statement, I looked at the Sincere Master. He continued,

“Before Zhuge Sha severed the connection between Heaven and Earth in ancient times, humans, Yao, and divine beings all lived together on this land of the Central Plains. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors also lived alongside humans. However, Zhuge Sha’s act of cutting the connection led to the majority of divine beings, including the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, ascending to the Celestial Realm, leaving only humans and the Yao on Earth.”

“Hmm…”

“The Heavenly Altar serves as the stepping stone of the ladder. When the ladder descends from the Celestial Realm, the divine beings that had been up there can descend directly to the earthly realm. As the severed connection is restored, the boundary between the Celestial and human worlds disappears.”

I tilted my head at those words.

“Even now, the Southern Flower Immortal or powerful divine beings can exert their influence in the human world as they see fit, right? What does it matter?”

The Sincere Master sighed again.

“It concerns the Law of Cause and Effect.”

“……?”

“Although the Southern Flower Immortal could wreak havoc on the human realm using powerful techniques, it was possible because the Jade Emperor decided to take on the karmic consequences of that act. No matter how powerful the Great Immortal is, he cannot disregard the Law of Cause and Effect, and if he recklessly exercises his power, he will face backlash and perish. Thus, despite the presence of many powerful divine beings throughout history, humans in the Central Plains were able to live peacefully.”

The Sincere Master looked up at the sky as he continued to speak.

“However, if the Heavenly Altar is restored, the constraints of the Law of Cause and Effect existing in the Celestial Realm become meaningless. All divine beings will be able to descend freely to the Earth, with hardly any limitations on their wielding of power.”

“What?!…”

I was taken aback.

If that were true, it meant that the powerful Great Immortals in the Celestial Realm could run amok in the earthly realm as they pleased! Thinking of the power of the Great Immortals, I realized just how dire the situation would be.

Although the leader had repelled the joint attack of the Southern Flower Immortal along with three Great Immortals, he had been cornered to the brink where he needed to reveal his trump card. Moreover, those Great Immortals were not even combat specialists like the Battle Immortals. Just having two Battle Immortals wielding specialized treasures would surely lead to the leader’s demise without question.

And in this era, there were no equals to the leader, let alone someone more powerful than him. The best contenders might be the Master of the Twelve Joules or Miyamoto Musashi, but whether they would agree to the alliance proposal on our side was doubtful! However, the descent of the Celestial realm was imminent, putting us in a critical situation without a doubt.

“Then what does this 49-day deadline mean?”

“It is a period of review over seven days for seven cycles. The Absolute Being of the Three Sovereigns, Zhuge Sha, will review the plan for the Heavenly Altar proposed by the Three Pure Ones, and that review period totals 49 days. Once the review is complete, the Heavenly Altar will be restored immediately.”

The Three Pure Ones referred to the three highest deities in Taoism: the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, the Spirit Treasure Heaven Master, and Taishang Laojun. It seemed that the Three Sovereigns were deemed to hold greater rank than the Three Pure Ones within the Celestial Realm. I tilted my head again.

“Hmm… Is there a chance that the Three Sovereigns will reject the plan to reinstall the Heavenly Ladder?”

“That’s something no one can predict. But throughout history, the Three Sovereigns have never once rejected the opinions of the Three Pure Ones.”

“……”

Then the 49-day deadline must really be a final ultimatum. I glared at the Heavenly Altar and declared,

“Then we’ll simply destroy this Heavenly Altar that’s going to connect the Heavenly Ladder!”

Upon hearing this, Cheon Woo-jin smirked.

“If you destroy it, the Celestial Realm would be even more grateful. There would be no need to wait 49 days.”

“What?”

“The Heavenly Altar is both a safety device for the Celestial Realm and a wedge. It is because the Heavenly Altar exists that the divine beings of the Celestial Realm do not rashly attempt to connect the Celestial Realm and the Earth. In other words, the Heavenly Altar is the separator between heaven and earth, and if it were destroyed, the Celestial Realm would immediately overlap with the earthly realm.”

“……!!”

At that moment, memories of the moment of death I faced in my 17th reincarnation flooded back. At that time, I had fled to the Heavenly Altar with Miho, having my legs torn by the ruler of the Demon Subduing Hall, while the Vermilion Bird pursued to kill us. I had attempted to use the Mind Control Technique with Miho and the Seven Luminaries to blow up the Heavenly Altar.

I still remembered the scream of the Vermilion Bird as it warned,

[Do you know what would happen if you did such a thing? Do you not understand the implications of the loss of the boundaries between the Celestial Realm?!]

[The true Three Sovereigns will ascend again! And they will not care about postponement or anything; they will destroy everything without hesitation! Their nature is not different from that of the ‘old rulers’!! The situation would be a hundred times more horrifying than any future created by the Demon Subduing Hall, so do not do anything foolish!]

And I, undeterred by the Vermilion Bird’s warning, destroyed the Heavenly Altar using the Seven Luminaries’ resonance. As a result, amidst a radiant glow, I felt my body dissolve, and I witnessed the Three Sovereigns rise in chaos as they donned their ceremonial robes.

Then, it meant that after my death back then, the Three Sovereigns rose and directly descended to the earthly realm, causing the worlds to overlap. Understanding Cheon Woo-jin’s words now, he continued speaking.

“Destroying the Heavenly Altar is the worst option. Instead, we have been left in a position where we must defend the Heavenly Altar from external forces for 49 days. Because even if, by some chance, we fail to stop the reinstallation of the Heavenly Ladder during these 49 days, if the Ladder remains intact, at least the divine beings of the Celestial Realm will exhibit minimal self-restraint…”

“Hmm…”

I let out a low groan.

‘This isn’t just about spying on the Celestial Realm’s information?!’

The leader of the White Lotus Sect might be unaware of the current situation, but in retrospect, sending me to investigate the Heavenly Altar was indeed the right choice. If I had merely waited, the anticipated destruction awaiting the White Lotus Sect would have come crashing down 49 days later. But suddenly, I thought of something and said,

“Wait! So, does that mean there’s nothing we can do right now? We just have to wait and observe for 49 days?”

“Of course not. If that were the case, why would I have followed you here?”

Responding curtly, Cheon Woo-jin continued,

“What we can do now is to submit a petition to the Celestial Realm.”

“A petition?”

“To express that even without the restoration of the Heavenly Ladder, we can address matters in the human realm ourselves, and thus request the cancellation of the plan to restore the Heavenly Ladder. This means persuading the Celestial Realm through the Heavenly Altar. That is the only way we have now.”

“Hmm!”

I regarded the Heavenly Altar with newfound perspective.

Indeed, the Heavenly Altar serves as both the ladder connecting the Celestial Realm and the Earth and as a communication gateway for conveying intentions from the Earth to the heavens. It’s likely that the Vermilion Bird manipulated the Heavenly Altar to spy on the celestial realm because of this very function.

After a moment’s thought, I looked at the Sincere Master.

“Sincere Master, you surely know how to submit a petition to the Celestial Realm.”

“Indeed. The Deputy Leader is well-versed in methods passed down through the generations of the Shaolin Temple.”

Upon hearing the Sincere Master’s reply, I felt a flicker of hope bloom. It felt as if there was a way to survive this crisis if everything went well. However, shortly after, the Sincere Master said in a strained voice,

“However… considering that Master Mangnyang failed to overcome the consensus of the Three Pure Ones during the Celestial Realm assembly, the probability is extremely low…” Even someone as distinguished as Master Jeomang had failed to overcome the collective opinion…

“……”

“We must now find every possible way to persuade the Celestial Realm.”

The Sincere Master joined his hands in prayer toward me.

“Baek Woong, please temporarily follow the Deputy Leader.”

“Understood.”

“Cheon Woo-jin, you must revive the energy of the Heavenly Altar. I ask this of you.”

Cheon Woo-jin naturally replied,

“I came here for that reason.”

Swish—

The Sincere Master and I left Cheon Woo-jin behind and headed somewhere. After climbing the mountain for a while, the Sincere Master arrived at an unfrequented temple. He then said to me,

“Inside here, someone has been desperately seeking you.”

“……?”

“This is also fate. It shall be your destiny to confront.”

What on earth did the Sincere Master mean by that?

However, given the urgency of the situation with the Heavenly Altar, there must have been a reason for bringing me here. I walked forward uncertainly into the dimly lit temple.

Inside the dark temple, candles flickered, illuminating the image of a woman in a white robe, praying and making offerings at the altar. Even from behind, her curvaceous silhouette was strikingly beautiful. I felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and tilted my head as I took a step closer.

As she offered one more bow to the statue and rose, turning to face me, she spoke,

“Looks like we finally meet, Baek Woong.”

Clank!

The moment I caught a glimpse of her face, my heart dropped.

Overwhelmed by my emotions, I couldn’t help but shout,

“Miho…!!”