Reincarnation Sword God

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00434 Celestial Realm ————————————————————————

Why is the Master of the Twelve Joules here?

And with the Young Master’s head at that.

In a moment, profound questions swelled in my mind, but I instinctively began to grasp the causal relationships. Normally, it wouldn’t be a connection I could make, but given my direct confrontation with the Sect Leader and my deepening involvement in this matter, I could understand it now.

I swallowed hard and glared at the Master of the Twelve Joules.

“So the Young Master… was the Sect Leader’s weakness?”

“Hoho. You’re quite perceptive.”

“Then Miyamoto Musashi…”

As I glanced at Miyamoto Musashi, the Master of the Twelve Joules shrugged his shoulders.

“Wouldn’t you know? I never claimed to be allied from the get-go. Naturally, I sent him as an assassin to pierce the Sect Leader’s heart.”

“……!!”

I could vaguely comprehend how things had developed.

Just as the Master of the White Lotus Sect harbored malicious intent to annihilate the Master of the Twelve Joules, he, too, was waiting for an opportunity to eliminate the White Lotus Sect! However, there was something in what the Master of the Twelve Joules said that I couldn’t accept.

“The Sect Leader is quite suspicious. He would have surely doubted Musashi…”

“Fufu… But he probably never expected someone would strike at his weakness in one go. Besides, you lot facing off against the Sect Leader and distracting him was a huge help.”

“……”

“Thank you, Baek Woong. You truly are a hero. Even I couldn’t find an opening against the wary Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

As he casually replied, the Master of the Twelve Joules lifted the Young Master’s neck to his chest. After examining his face, he continued.

“Well, I didn’t really want it to come to this. It simply grew too large a problem for someone not to handle. You would agree, wouldn’t you?”

“What’s important now is not that, Master of the Twelve Joules.”

Lee Cheong-un stepped forward. He spoke in a stern voice.

“The White Lotus Sect has now collapsed. But soon, a fierce battle will occur in Luoyang between the ‘Old Ruler’ and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. You are aware of this fact. What are your thoughts moving forward?”

“Ah… yes. So you are the practitioner of the Thunder God Lineage, Lee Cheong-un.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules tilted his head.

“Why are you worried about that?”

“……?!”

“It seems you don’t grasp what it means that our Master of the Twelve Joules has taken the Young Master’s body. In that case, there’s no reason to talk further.”

I felt that something was going awry.

‘If Cheon Woo-jin were here…’

If even one sorcerer like Cheon Woo-jin or Mangnyang were present, they could decipher the Master of the Twelve Joules’ intentions with their knowledge of sorcery. But now, with only myself and Lee Cheong-un remaining, there was nothing I could glean in that regard.

As I gritted my teeth, Zhuge Sa spoke from within me.

[ Baek Woong. Wait a moment.]

Zhuge Sa’s voice was calm and collected, unlike the madness that had enveloped him before. Hearing this tone from him was something I hadn’t experienced much, and it startled me. As I listened, Zhuge Sa continued.

[ This is truly a critical turning point. So, listen to me carefully.]

[ Zhuge Sa. Do you understand the current situation?]

[ Yes. But it’s also true that you’re in a precarious situation. Just as I was exposed before the Master of the White Lotus Sect because of you.]

[ ……]

I immediately comprehended the situation upon hearing Zhuge Sa’s analogy.

Killing Intent!

While not directly perceived, Zhuge Sa seemed to infer from the causal and vested interests that the Master of the Twelve Joules intended to kill me. And if that was the case, it was indeed hard to survive.

Zhuge Sa said.

[ Baek Woong. You currently have two options. One is to somehow maintain your life here, but you might become a slave to the Master of the Twelve Joules right in front of you. The Master of the Twelve Joules is a being without right and wrong, so you would be toyed with until you die, but amidst that, there may be a faint hope to reverse the situation.]

[ ……]

[ The Master of the Twelve Joules is different from the Master of the White Lotus Sect. He has nothing to empathize with you. He is the most dangerous villain to you in this world.]

[ What’s the other option?]

[ To give up this life entirely and pass on to the next one. You could land a good blow on the Master of the Twelve Joules right before that. However, your death would be unavoidable.]

Zhuge Sa continued darkly.

[ Personally, I wonder what difference it makes between the two. In either case, you must choose quickly.]

While I contemplated Zhuge Sa’s words, Lee Cheong-un stepped forward, holding off the Master of the Twelve Joules. He appeared severely exhausted from the confrontation with the Sect Leader, but without showing fatigue, he spoke to the Master of the Twelve Joules.

“Master of the Twelve Joules. Frankly, I don’t know what you mean. But we have accomplished our goal of defeating the Sect Leader, and now we wish to withdraw. So please do not obstruct us.”

Then the Master of the Twelve Joules responded in a voice that seemed to grin.

“… Who are you to decide when to leave?”

A heavy silence descended in an instant. All the experts present sensed that a decisive battle was looming. The Master of the Twelve Joules’ words just now were nothing less than a declaration of war. Lee Cheong-un glared at the Master of the Twelve Joules with fierce eyes and said.

“Wasn’t this a scheme to cast us aside?”

“Fufu. That’s not quite accurate… Wouldn’t ‘cutting the grass to eliminate the roots’ be more apt? Because, ultimately, this mess began because of you, Baek Woong.”

“Don’t make excuses. The Sect Leader initiated it.”

“Really?”

The Master of the Twelve Joules raised his hand and pointed at me.

“Baek Woong. You were told by Nüwa to keep the Sect Leader in check. But what you did was act as the Sect Leader’s confidant, floundering about while performing the Offering Ceremony. If you truly intended to stop the Sect Leader, shouldn’t you have begun plotting with us, a power comparable to his, to assassinate him from that very moment?”

“How do you know that fact…”

I felt a surge of distress. The fact that I received orders from Nüwa was known only to the Celestials in this realm, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, or perhaps Cheon Woo-jin. No human should have been able to learn what occurred at the Offering Ceremony on Mount Tai. Yet here, the Master of the Twelve Joules seemed to know it implicitly, leaving me bewildered.

“I see your scheme clearly. You’ve been waiting for the moment to ride the Sect Leader’s coattails while this world fell into chaos. Wasn’t it your plan to uncover the ancient mystery and secrets that emerge at that moment? You’re the root of all evil, far more insidious than the Sect Leader.”

“……”

“The chaos in Luoyang has already reached its climax.”

Wee-yiing

The Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon, drew forth the divine artifact, the Cosmic Fragment, radiating a sacred blue light from his waist. In that moment, I reflexively raised the Fire Dragon Sword, but with the Fire Dragon Sword already in tatters, its power could not match the splendor of the Cosmic Fragment. As I hesitated, the Master of the Twelve Joules seemed to chuckle.

“Fufu… The Fire Dragon Sword would normally be an unrivaled divine treasure against the Cosmic Fragment, but I saw everything in the fight earlier. That treasure is already on the verge of breaking due to decay. The Sword Master Yeodong-bin who fought with it is truly remarkable.”

“W-what did you say?”

At that instant, the battle process of Yeodong-bin flashed through my mind.

If Yeodong-bin had been fighting with the Fire Dragon Sword at full power, he would have been significantly stronger. However, he deliberately began to extract power from unknown artifacts like the National Seal or Moon Sovereign first. And when the Fire Dragon Sword broke, his lamentation had an air as if he was already aware that it would end that way.

‘Could it be that the Fire Dragon Sword has exhausted all its power to seal the passage to Dark Heaven for centuries and is on the brink of destruction?’

Yet, despite this, Yeodong-bin had no choice but to use the Fire Dragon Sword. It was because he had to fully unleash his maximum potential. At that moment, Lee Cheong-un sent me a message through Six Harmonies Assembly.

[ Baek Woong. I will buy us time by somehow holding them off. You need to use the Four Great Spirits or the Golden Lamp to find an opening and escape.]

[ Is that even possible?]

[ … I don’t know. But I have to try.]

Seeing Lee Cheong-un speak with such uncertainty was a first for me.

But it was understandable. There were two absolute experts standing before us in a zone of complete danger, one of whom was the current ultimate being of humanity with two Luminaries at his disposal. Those two were the undisputed powers of Goryeo and Dongyoung. Even if Lee Cheong-un cast the Thunder Spirit Technique, it was uncertain whether he could hold out against their combined attack.

I ultimately made up my mind and clenched my fist. Then I spoke to Zhuge Sa.

[ I choose the latter, Zhuge Sa!]

[ Are you serious?]

[ I can’t live by licking that bastard’s feet as it is. Even if I die, I will make sure to take him down with me!]

After a brief silence, Zhuge Sa replied.

[ Then let’s give it a shot. Follow my lead.]

As soon as Zhuge Sa finished speaking, I was taken aback by his plan. But with no other options, I agreed, treating it like a gamble.

[ Understood.]

Immediately after I made my decision, I shouted at the Master of the Twelve Joules.

“Master of the Twelve Joules! Stop this! If you let us go peacefully now, there will be no bloodshed.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules responded nonchalantly.

“Will just seeing blood do? I need to see your corpse for it to end.”

“……”

“Oh! Don’t worry about the aftermath. You will die a hero and be remembered for eternity.”

Pew-woong

The moment the words ended, the battle began. The Master of the Twelve Joules made the first move!

And as light beams shot past, Lee Cheong-un seemed to reflect Musashi and the Master of the Twelve Joules’ joint attack in midair.

Purburung

[ Gah… Hurry…!!]

Lee Cheong-un had barely exchanged a single moment of defense but spat blood from his mouth. It seemed incredibly challenging to block the combined attacks of the two absolute masters even with the Thunder Spirit Technique. If it had just been Lee Cheong-un alone, he likely wouldn’t have taken such injuries, but he was wounded due to fighting to protect me.

‘Ugh.’

I immediately attempted to activate the Golden Lamp, but I realized it wouldn’t trigger. It was likely the Master of the Twelve Joules had taken some measures. But because Zhuge Sa had already anticipated this, he immediately summoned the Four Great Spirits. When the Four Great Spirits appeared, I wasted no time in attempting to move.

Kuwakwang

Just then, a colossal Cosmic Fragment flew towards me and struck my waist with immense force. The speed was so astounding that I couldn’t dodge even knowing it was coming.

“……!!”

Having recovered my energy with the power drawn from the Moon Sovereign, I concentrated all my protective energy in an instant to avoid immediate death.

But it felt like I might lose consciousness. An excruciating pain hit me, akin to being struck by the Sect Leader’s Heart of Heaven’s Abundance. I felt like some bones had broken, and my organs had burst. Any ordinary human would have become incapacitated and sprawled on the ground from such a blow.

With that one hit, I fully realized that Ha Eun-cheon was an absolute being on par with the Sect Leader. He had truly toyed with me back when we fought in the Divine Realm.

Still, still?

In that fleeting moment, I felt anxious as I awaited ‘something.’ Escaping this place with the Golden Lamp and the Four Great Spirits was unavoidable, regardless of whether I chose the first or second option. However, depending on how the following developments unfolded, my choice could take on complete decisiveness.

It was at that moment.

[ Baek Woong!!]

A sudden shout echoed through the void, and a gigantic silver flame erupted towards us. The Master of the Twelve Joules, who had been aiming to violently end my life with his relentless onslaught, looked startled as he seemed to try to evade the silver flame. The range of that flame was so vast he truly had no choice but to avoid it.

And the one who unleashed this powerful flame, filled with overwhelming energy, flew to my side, gleaming in silver. I opened my hazy eyes and stared at her.

“Mi… Miho.”

[ Run away! Baek Woong!]

Whoosh!

Miho’s appearance was different from before. Unlike an ordinary Nine-Tailed Fox, her tails had transformed into three, each emanating powerful energy as if they were alive. Additionally, her hair had shifted from black to a complete silver color, signifying an entirely different level of power. I instinctively sensed that she had gained immense strength.

Is this the Great Luck?

After going to the Celestial Realm, Miho had awakened and arrived just in time to buy me a moment of respite; I could only see this as great luck. I wanted to ask Miho what had happened, but I had no time to spare.

At this moment, an absolute sword aura from Miyamoto Musashi was bearing down on Miho. She mobilized the energy from her tails to create a shield, but then she let out a scream and retreated.

[ Aah!]

Musashi’s Lunar Kill Technique was so powerful that even Miho’s strength couldn’t withstand it for long.

Once again, the choice divided. Zhuge Sa called out quickly.

[ Now’s the time! Go!]

I had no choice but to!

“Break through the dimension!”

[ Understood.]

Whap!

I first used the Four Great Spirits to escape this vicinity. As expected, the reason I couldn’t use the Golden Lamp was that the Master of the Twelve Joules had previously set up a dimensional barrier to prevent its leap. He had meticulously laid out traps to catch me.

However, thanks to the Four Great Spirits’ ability to breach dimensions once a day, I managed to escape. As soon as I landed back, I immediately summoned the Four Great Spirits back, without any time to spare, and wielded the Golden Lamp.

Whap!

The place I arrived at was the Otherworldly Realm of Dark Heaven. I found myself face to face with the ‘Old Ruler’ in the jungle. The ‘Old Ruler’ eyed me intently, saying nothing, but I hurriedly spoke up.

“Old Ruler! I have a request!!”

[ What is it…?]

I felt the duality of a gamble coursing down my spine and shouted.

“Kill the Master of the Twelve Joules and Miyamoto Musashi!!”

Right now, there was no other plan.

I had never made more than one request to the ‘Old Ruler’ of the jungle until now. Because the black talisman from the Seven Kills Village was only usable once. While coming to the jungle with the Golden Lamp was entirely feasible, it was due to the black talisman that I hadn’t ventured before. I couldn’t predict how the ‘Old Ruler’ would react if I were to arrive uninvited without the right of entry or the right to request.

But here, I wagered my entire past life. If the ‘Old Ruler’ granted my request, I could kill enemies or save allies multiple times using the power of reversal in the future. However, if not, I would end up as the slave of the **Heavenly Secret** for eternity, tortured relentlessly.

The ‘Old Ruler’ of the jungle pondered in silence before finally speaking.

[ You’ve made things quite entertaining on the surface…]

That being, residing on the distant Otherworldly Realm of Dark Heaven, seemed to be aware of everything happening on the surface world. The way he spoke indicated that I was at the center of this incident. The ruler continued, showing interest.

[ Normally… coming here without even a black talisman would be the highest crime… you’d be torn apart by the spider god protecting Dark Heaven… or rightfully thrown into the abyss of time by my power…]

I felt chills as I listened to the ‘Old Ruler’s’ words.

‘So it truly was one chance only.’

The convenient method of resurrection had just been sealed off. Looking into the ruler’s eyes, I steeled myself as he continued.

[ But… what does it matter… You are the most intriguing human I have encountered in history… orchestrating chaos and leading mortals into hell… fufufu…]

After a moment of laughter, the ruler stated.

[ I will grant your request… but I must receive a price…]

Even now, as we spoke, Lee Cheong-un and Miho would be constantly edging closer to death. Feeling urgent, I shouted.

“What price?”

[ Your soul…]

“……”

[ Had you possessed the black talisman, I would have fulfilled your wish for free… but I’ll allow it as an equivalent exchange…]

In other words, to kill the Master of the Twelve Joules and Musashi, I had to pay with my life.

It was absurd to refer to this as “an allowance,” but that was likely the mentality of the so-called gods and spirits known as the ‘Old Ruler.’ However, since this was also Zhuge Sa’s plan I had heard, I tried to nod my head without hesitation.

It was then.

The ruler’s body exhibited hundreds of glowing eyes and said with peculiar delight.

[ Hoho… How interesting… Can I betray that one?…]

What sort of absurd statement was that?

I tilted my head in confusion, but the ruler burst into wild laughter.

[ Haha… very well… I will accept that transaction…]

It was sudden.

Zing!

The void twisted as a dimensional portal opened, where the heavy-set Fengshen War stood, looking puzzled. The first priest of the Heretical Sect, who had become a **Demon King** through a deal with the gods, seemed utterly baffled by the circumstances.

In a fit of rage, the Fengshen War suddenly transformed into a massive fog and spat the language of the Otherworldly Race.

[ Kyaaaa!! Zhuge Sa!! How dare you betray me…]

The ruler of the jungle seemed to be laughing.

[ You were far too cocky believing in the the goat… this opportunity has come so swiftly…]

[ That’s impossible…]

[ Enjoy it…]

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the Fengshen War unleashed his dark powers and attacked the ruler of the jungle, but was abruptly sucked into a gaping dimensional hole that appeared out of nowhere, similar to the flow of water. In an instant, the Fengshen War was obliterated, but I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

[ That was delicious…]

The jungle’s ‘Old Ruler’ had swallowed the **Demon King** Fengshen War!

‘W-what? What just happened…’

As I stood there in bewilderment, the ruler of the jungle summoned two souls in the air, which he then devoured just like before.

[ Baek Woong… your wish has been granted.]

“……”

The ones just consumed must have been the souls of the Master of the Twelve Joules and Musashi.

[ I will give you a moment for your last farewells…]

Wooong

A pure white soul separated from my body. In that moment, the translucent spirit of Zhuge Sa slowly floated up into the air. Zhuge Sa stood before me, bluntly stating.

[ This is it.]

“Zhuge Sa! What’s happening?”

[ Can’t you see? I informed Lord God of the location where I hid and he summoned and dealt with the Fengshen War here.]

“……!!”

In that instant, memories from the past surged back. The Fengshen War had cast an incantation borrowing the power of the Outer God, claiming to demonstrate his strength in the presence of his own people. That time, the ‘Old Ruler’ must have felt extremely displeased, as they had invaded their territory. However, since the Fengshen War was the priest of the Outer God, they likely held back for a while. Yet during that time, Zhuge Sa had told the ruler of the jungle about the Fengshen War’s hiding place, resulting in his annihilation.

Zhuge Sa said.

[ I feel indifferent. I’ll soon be entering the belly of the god, but I don’t feel very bad.]

“What…?”

[ If I had the black talisman, I could have fulfilled my wish without cost, but I instead exchanged the information with you. And well, since the price was slightly insufficient, I sacrificed my own soul. From now on, my soul will belong to the ruler of the jungle. While the term ‘belonging’ suggests that I will become food…]

“……!!”

I was shocked. I never imagined Zhuge Sa would make such a choice?!

“W-why would you do this? Why…?”

I couldn’t comprehend it.

Was there really a reason for Zhuge Sa to sacrifice himself for me, a reincarnator? And how could he, who knew the pain of being absorbed by the ‘Old Ruler,’ make such a choice?

Zhuge Sa chuckled coldly.

[ I have no attachment to the afterlife or salvation. The fear of death arises from not knowing what follows after it. But I know enough and detest the artificial salvation supplied by the Celestial Realm. After all, it’s merely self-satisfaction.]

“What are you talking about…”

[ My family and I… the entire Zhuge clan… have been tormented by the hypocrisy of the Celestial Realm.]

He spat the words out, a smirk on his face.

[ So I plan to become a demon and lose my humanity, infinitely drowning in despair. Such a fate would befit me.]

“… You’re insane. But…”

[ Do you get it now?]

Somehow, I felt like I could understand Zhuge Sa’s emotions after sharing my soul with him for so long and practicing the Soul Exchange Technique together.

[ The reason I acted for you this time… is that I judged you to have potential.]

“What?”

[ Even geniuses like me sometimes wish to act foolishly.]

“What…”

Suddenly, self-praise? As I found it absurd, Zhuge Sa turned towards me.

[ A dullard like you, no matter how hard you struggle and wriggle, will see your efforts amount to nothing after a thousand years. Even now, I think your efforts are utterly futile. Gathering the Seven Luminaries will lead to your downfall. But, but…]

For the first time, Zhuge Sa wore a sad smile.

[ Choosing you as my lord… was the first rebellion against my destiny.]

Whap!

The moment Zhuge Sa finished speaking, he vanished.

More precisely, he had been absorbed by the ruler of the jungle.

“……”

From now on, he would be destined to suffer endlessly as a plaything for the ‘Old Ruler’. That would be no different from the world known as ‘hell’. But Zhuge Sa refused artificial salvation, choosing hell of his own volition.

I clenched my trembling hands.

This wasn’t it.

This wasn’t right!

No matter how big of a jerk Zhuge Sa was, this wasn’t the end he wanted!

And I cried out.

“God! Please return his soul!!”

The ruler of the jungle spoke coldly.

[ Why are you throwing a tantrum when a fair transaction was made…?]

“Damn it! Is this a fair transaction?!”

I could no longer contain myself.

I knew it.

I understood that it was right to survive and move forward towards the future after this moment. Now that the Master of the Twelve Joules, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, and Zhuque have all been removed, it would undoubtedly be the best environment for me to gather the Seven Luminaries and grow stronger. Zhuge Sa understood that, which is why he chose to bear that burden and die in my place.

But what did that matter?

Even if I compromised with this desperate reality and turned a blind eye to my growing strength, was that the right thing to do? Was I merely relying on the power of the gods, shedding false tears over my companion’s sacrifice? And how could I bear to see Zhuge Sa suffering endlessly in hell?

How could I endure it when I was no different from those absolute beings who submitted to the power of the gods!

This was nothing but endless manipulation!

I felt veins rise on my forehead as I screamed.

“God! Is it that easy for mortals to be your playthings?!”

As I yelled, the ruler of the jungle calmly replied with amusement.

[ Not just mortals. In the face of the gods, all mortals stand equal.]

“Ugh…”

[ Human Baek Woong. The beings called gods, we the ‘Old Ruler,’ are the world itself. No matter how much you flail and exert your will, you cannot reach our feet. You were merely created to provide us entertainment.]

“This world…”

As I heard those words, I realized.

In my previous life, it wasn’t simply about defeating a particular rival.

It wasn’t an end that could finish with just a single battle.

Even if it appeared to come to a conclusion, it never truly did and continued with a cycle of defeat – because my opponent was a god, an absolute being who could claim itself to be the world itself. Even now, the ruler of the jungle pretended to help me eliminate my adversaries, pretending to execute justice while, in reality, it was nothing more than playing with a fool.

To break this cycle of despair, I needed my own answer.

And I could feel what that answer was through Zhuge Sa’s death.

“… I will die.”

[ Hoho… what did you say?]

The deaths of the Master of the White Lotus Sect and Zhuge Sa lingered in my mind.

I was engulfed in madness as my reason trembled.

I cried out amidst the chaos.

“Then I will die… and after I die, I shall challenge you again.”

I summoned all my strength and charged at the ‘Old Ruler.’

“I will kill this world!”

And my consciousness faded away.

In the chaos I last saw, I felt horrendous pain as I screamed.

I would certainly make it happen.

I would witness the end of the gods they call the world with my own eyes!

My 19th death heralded the end of my childhood.