Reincarnation Sword God

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00422  Celestial Realm ————————————————————————=

[ I don’t want to ride the Four Great Spirits. ]

When I tried to put him on the Four Great Spirits, the Prophet suddenly replied.

“Why?”

[ The Four Great Spirits are a Spirit Beast, so they don’t match well with my magic… it would feel like sitting on a thorny bush. ]

“But to get to the Heavenly Altar, it’s quite a distance.”

I retorted in disbelief. We were in this distant place, several thousand li away from the Central Plains, and just a bit further would lead to the Arasa Empire, and beyond that was the Western Regions. How could I possibly get to the Five Great Mountains from the brink of the Western Regions?

Then the Prophet said.

[ I saw the location of the Heavenly Altar as obsidian… since you like the volcano, let’s proceed from there. ]

“What do you mean how will we get there?”

[ Don’t worry, I’ll get there on my own… ]

Whoosh!

As soon as the Prophet finished speaking, he disappeared.

“Whoa.”

Did he just use some kind of magic or technique? Surprised, I watched as the inner Zhuge Sa urged me on.

[ Let’s go. ]

“What did that guy just do?”

[ He used magic. He’s already there. ]

“Even so, it’s still several thousand li from Astana to the Five Great Mountains…”

Techniques like Transmission Technique and Spatial Movement were part of the magic system. But even if you used those techniques, moving a thousand li would be exceptional, and unless you were a Grand Sorcerer, moving even a hundred li would be difficult. The idea of moving several thousand li instantaneously was completely out of the question.

The Four Great Spirits move with the supernatural abilities of Celestial Realm spirits, and even if the Golden Lamp was a magical artifact created for movement, being able to traverse several thousand li with a single technique? If I didn’t rely on such tools, I could never match that kind of unconventional mobility.

At that moment, Zhuge Sa chuckled softly.

[ That Prophet is the king of the Zhuyong Tribe and an ancient monster who has existed since before the age of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. He’s a demigod and transcendent being who has always lived beyond the otherworldly plane. Knowing of the Prophet’s existence would drive a normal human mad. The magic of otherworldly races is far more powerful than the techniques based on the Eight Trigrams, hence he can activate that kind of alien incantation. ]

“Hmm… so are you saying techniques are weaker than magic?”

[ Not at all. You know that well from experience, right? It all comes down to skill level and innate talent. If techniques were weaker than magic, we couldn’t explain the strength of the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin. ]

“Right.”

There hasn’t been anyone stronger than Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin among the Demon Sorcerers I’ve seen so far, like Zhuge Sa or Sangwan Hyuk. Once the topic of magic came up, Zhuge Sa seemed excited and continued speaking.

[ Magic and techniques both originate from the powers of the ancient rulers. Techniques are simply a more specialized system. And magic, compared to techniques, has a much more advanced method of human sacrifice and a higher threshold. ]

“In the end, it’s about sacrificing people to become stronger.”

[ Isn’t it a hundred times better than wasting a life with no talent? ]

“……”

For a moment, Zhuge Sa’s words tempted me. Certainly, if one could just sacrifice humans while ignoring talent and become stronger, it would be the easiest and most convenient way. But I quickly steeled my resolve and said,

“We should go.”

Whoosh.

A short time later, I arrived at the Heavenly Altar at the volcano. Near the Heavenly Altar, three experts of the Su Shin Sect were waiting, and when they saw me, they immediately bowed down.

[ We meet the Deputy Sect Leader. ]

I took a quick look around. It seemed the experts of the Su Shin Sect had successfully taken control of the Huashan Sect’s main force while following orders, and there were no signs of blood or battle around, so it looked like they had entered without a fight.

“I command that no one approaches this vicinity, and for the next day, no one is to enter within five li of here. Inform the Huashan Sect as well.”

[ Understood. ]

“Should any Huashan Sect members attempt to approach, kill them.”

[ Of course. ]

It was a rather harsh command, but given the importance of the situation, there wasn’t much choice. If they couldn’t understand the warning, they only had themselves to blame. As the experts of the Su Shin Sect dispersed with their Light Body Technique, I approached the Heavenly Altar.

Whoosh.

At that moment, with a dark light, time and space distorted, and the Prophet appeared in that spot. He must have arrived early and was hiding so that the Su Shin Sect experts wouldn’t notice him. The Prophet spoke.

[ You’ve arrived… then let’s begin. ]

“Wait a moment. What do we need for the Offering Ceremony?”

I decided to double-check to make sure.

[ Order, Right, Qualification, Timing. ]

“Do you know all of that?”

[ The one who devised the Offering Ceremony, Changqie, also conveyed the details of the ceremony to me… I know everything important. I also know the order of the ceremony. ]

“What about Right, Qualification, and Timing?”

[ You’ve gained the Right through being the owner of the Moon Sovereign and being recognized by the Celestial Realm… and as for Timing, I’ll align it with my magic. As for Qualification, you’ve certainly got it, given how many benefits you’ve obtained through the Offering Ceremony. ]

Calmly responding, the Prophet suddenly emitted a brilliant light.

Boom!!

[ The Offering Ceremony can be performed right now… but before that… decide what you will offer and what you will ask for. ]

Once the light faded, the figure revealed was unexpectedly humanoid. He wore ancient priestly garments reminiscent of the former Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, but his form wasn’t entirely human, as dark energy swirled around him, and his face bore protruding armor-like features with unsettling, flickering eyes, creating a fearful impression.

Curiously, I asked,

“Why did you suddenly transform into a humanoid?”

[ The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors do not particularly favor the forms of otherworldly races… it’s an unavoidable measure to avoid raising hostility. ]

“Oh! I see. Not fond of the forms of otherworldly races…”

I found it surprising to learn this. As I questioned further, the Prophet said,

[ What will you offer? What will you ask for? ]

“……”

After a moment of careful consideration, I replied.

“… I will offer the Divine Portrait and the Demon Beast’s Bracelet and demand the cessation of the Heavenly Sovereign’s activation. ”

[ Indeed. But isn’t that offering a bit too little? ]

I bitterly countered.

“Isn’t it possible to offer additional sacrifices midway? We can adjust as we go.”

If I were to offer the National Seal and the Moon Sovereign, it would be equivalent to offering more than ten times the value, but it was a path I couldn’t choose lightly. Offering everything would leave me as poor as a beggar, unable to get involved in the colossal situation that would unfold. The risk of failure was too great to rush into it.

[ It is possible. However… it’s not very favorable. ]

With his arms crossed, the Prophet spoke with a somewhat displeased expression.

[ It seems you are acting too impulsively in matters concerning the destiny of heaven and earth… do you not have any consideration for the consequences or accurate calculations in the event of failure? ]

“Oof…”

I flinched at his incisive critique. Indeed, I had come here too much on a whim without a definite plan in mind. I was merely here to protest through the Offering Ceremony, asking the Three Sovereigns to withdraw the Heavenly Sovereign, with no strategy for successful execution. This was one of the most crucial moments of my entire lifetime, and yet!

Realizing the problem, the Prophet said,

[ I’ll wait here for a day. Go back and discuss countermeasures with the Sect Leader… ]

“With the Sect Leader?”

[ The Sect Leader possesses several of your treasures. If you can acquire treasures from him, your odds of success will significantly increase. And there will likely be other treasures unique to the Master of the White Lotus Sect… ]

“Oh.”

Of course!

Feeling the Prophet’s advice was on point, I hurriedly said,

“Thank you!”

[ Don’t keep making mistakes… we’re trading based precisely on the value of the sacred relics you offered. ]

“……”

A chill ran down my spine. The Prophet was indeed a being that engaged in transactions rigorously without an ounce of mercy or concession. The advice he had just given was likely not out of kindness or loyalty, but merely to cover the value of the sacred relics he had received from me.

I quickly rode the Four Great Spirits back to the Sect Leader.

“Master. I have something to discuss.”

Then I explained the current situation to the Sect Leader. Of course, while I mentioned the interference from the Thunder God lineage, I refrained from mentioning Lee Cheong-un’s existence. After finishing my explanation, I concluded with,

“… So, based on my judgment, rather than provoke the Thunder God lineage, I believe it would be better to secure the Five Great Mountains and conduct the Offering Ceremony to increase our odds of success…”

[ Baek Woong. Are you suggesting that you’d offer my treasures as part of the Offering Ceremony at the Heavenly Altar? ]

“Isn’t it most important to block the Heavenly Ladder right now?”

[ Hmm…]

The Sect Leader looked deeply troubled. After a lengthy deliberation, he said,

[ I need some time to think. Wait for a short moment. ]

“Yes.”

I stepped outside and sat waiting for a short moment. Once the time passed and I returned, unexpectedly, the Sect Leader tossed me the Golden Lamp and the Wooden Armor.

[ Here, take this. ]

“Are you sure about this?”

[ That’s not all. Follow me. ]

“……?”

I felt a surge of astonishment. The Golden Lamp and Wooden Armor were incredible magical artifacts that I believed rivaled the world’s most extraordinary swords. It was strange that the Sect Leader would return the Golden Lamp and Wooden Armor he had taken from me as offerings; and yet, this wasn’t the end?

Eventually, I followed the Sect Leader as he headed toward somewhere. Together, we left the stronghold of the White Lotus Sect, and the council elders that accompanied the Sect Leader were all sent back. The fact that even the Elder Council’s guards were turned away indicated that the place the Sect Leader intended to go was anything but ordinary.

Whoosh!

Following the Sect Leader, I moved swiftly with incredible speed and soon arrived at what could only be described as a fortress. I described it as a fortress because it looked like an enormous structure cut from an entire mountain. Yet, the outer walls were clearly made with artificial techniques, making it easy to discern that this was a man-made structure.

Clang…

The Sect Leader activated a mechanism to open the massive iron door and walked inside, saying,

[ Everything you see from now on is the greatest secret of our sect and the Su Shin lineage. ]

“What?”

[ If this secret ever leaks, I will tear you to shreds and kill you, even if the world is brought to ruin. ]

The greatest secret!

And the Sect Leader’s warning!

The Sect Leader possessed a keener awareness of the current situation of the White Lotus Sect than anyone else. He also knew that I was not easily fazed by the fear of death. Yet, he chose to threaten me with murder, sharing this information, indicating it held significant meaning.

It meant that within this place lay something so crucial, that there was a potential to turn against me and take my life if things went south!

“… Understood. ”

The Sect Leader then chuckled softly.

[ … Hehe. I never thought I would share this secret with anyone in my lifetime. Who would’ve thought that despite achieving the long-desired imperial palace assault, things would get so complicated… Life really is a winding path full of chaos. ]

It felt like the first time I had ever heard such a monologue from the Sect Leader. I followed him down the shadowy secret passage for some time, passing through various rooms. Eventually, we revealed numerous circular passages covered in what appeared to be foreign script, and the Sect Leader casually chose one and walked in without hesitation.

‘ It’s like a maze. ‘

And it was clear the Sect Leader knew the precise solution to this maze. This indicated there was indeed something here worth protecting at all costs.

How many twists and turns did we weave through?

[ We have arrived. ]

A massive altar was set in front of us, illuminated by the glow of dark moonlight. The altar was triangular, with strange, indecipherable characters carved into each layer. Surrounding the altar were several spiraling staircases, swathed in bluish flames flying around the altar.

Wooow –

“Master. What’s that altar… and the blue flames? ”

[ Those are souls. ]

“What?”

[ They are being fed. ]

As the Sect Leader casually replied, he reached out his hand.

Boom!!

With a booming sound, a transparent barrier flickered into view in mid-air. After placing his hand on the barrier and mumbling something in the language of otherworldly races for a while, the Sect Leader finally drew his hand back and said,

[ There’s a barrier here that prevents anyone other than the Su Shin lineage from entering. I’ve temporarily disabled it. ]

“Yes.”

We walked up the spiral staircase on the inside of the barrier, proceeding slowly. As I walked these steps, a familiar feeling washed over me, as they bore the typical architectural style of otherworldly races. It reinforced my knowledge that the Sect Leader was well-versed in magical arts and knowledgeable about otherworldly lore.

The Sect Leader led the way, speaking.

[ The power I gained in my youth came from this ruin. ]

“Ruin? Isn’t this the village of the Su Shin lineage?”

Exactly.

This enormous artificial fortress, as far as I knew, was indeed the village of the Su Shin lineage. The Su Shin had not mingled within the interior of the White Lotus Sect; rather, they lived in isolation within this fortress. Even when I first entered, I had briefly seen the forms of the Su Shin village from a distance.

[ Correct. ]

The Sect Leader responded to my statement, striding more vigorously up the staircase in the air.

[ I was a bookworm since childhood, and I am of the priestly bloodline of the White Lotus Sect. I had little interest in martial arts. My lifelong duty was to preserve the priestly bloodline’s knowledge for future generations and to conduct the rituals of the White Lotus Sect. ]

“……”

[ In the meantime, I stumbled across an ancient document inscribed with the memoirs of the Dharma Ancestor and realized that an ancient ruin lay hidden within this mountain, leading me to venture forth with all my strength to reach this place. It was all sheer desire for knowledge. ]

Pause.

[ Thus, I discovered it. This Altar of Darkness. ]

“The Altar of Darkness?”

The Sect Leader nodded.

[ The Dharma Ancestor, with the help of outside forces, created the teachings of the Non-Birth Mother, but the power of chaos was so potent that it scattered across the world. The Dharma Ancestor also perished at that time. However, he constructed this altar to ensure that the last fragment could be preserved within the White Lotus Sect before the teachings were completed. ]

“So the teachings of the Non-Birth Mother were sealed in the altar? ”

[ Correct. It has been waiting for a successor. ]

The Sect Leader stepped down from the staircase in the air and planted his feet on the uppermost tier of the altar.

[ I have resided here for a long time, gaining nourishment and immense power while interpreting the teachings… ]

With his Light Body Technique, the Sect Leader could have jumped up to the top instantly, but the fact that he chose to take the steps indicated that this location held a special significance for him. As I stepped onto the uppermost tier after him, the Sect Leader opened a stone box.

Clunk…

He pulled out a large scroll from within the stone box. Though called a scroll, it had many dense layers, appearing flat and wide. I couldn’t tell what material it was made from.

But the moment I laid eyes on that scroll, my heart raced.

I was breathless.

What was this feeling?

I felt my head spinning, and my heart felt like it would burst.

As if sensing my thoughts, the Sect Leader held the scroll out to me.

[ Can you hold this? ]

I gritted my teeth and reached for the scroll. But in that moment, I felt a looming shadow of immense darkness clouding my mind.

Snap!

I regained my consciousness when the Sect Leader slapped me. Apparently, I had completely zoned out and fainted for a moment when I reached for it. Mortified, I shook my head.

“Ugh… did I just faint? ”

[ Surprising. ]

The Sect Leader remarked, seemingly amazed.

[ Until now, the only people who have vanished the moment they touched this were those who never even got to grasp it. But you handled the chaotic energy and tried to grab it, only fainting! ]

“……”

[ There have been cases where people’s eyes burned out just from looking at it, twisting into a knot and dying. ]

The Sect Leader calmly stated such terrifying things as he tucked the scroll away.

[ The reason I can hold it is that I learned the correct incantation from the teachings of the Dharma Ancestor and drew the powers of chaos into my Primordial Spirit, harmonizing with it. Before mastering the powers of chaos, I was like a madman, completely dedicated to my training. Most ordinary humans would succumb to the powers of chaos or perish upon reaching the top tier of the Altar of Darkness. ]

“Hmm…”

[ It’s because the power of the Magic Book is connected to the altar. But you’re completely unharmed… ]

I realized something from the Sect Leader’s words.

“Could it be that … that scroll is …”

[ Correct. ]

From the Sect Leader’s next utterance, I sensed that the forthcoming Offering Ceremony was bound to be extraordinary.

[ This is an ancient mystery that descends directly from the lineage of chaos. The Magic Book of the Water God, written by the God himself, is called Ktaart. I will offer this to the Three Sovereigns to put an end to the Heavenly Sovereign’s plan. ]