Reincarnation Sword God

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00451 暗天鄕  ————————————————————————=

After a moment of silence, Cheon Woo-jin nervously spoke up.

“This is a foreign land. Just exorcising the Great Evil Spirit is enough. It would be best to leave anything beyond that to the people of this land.”

It was clear he was being bothersome, but I nodded anyway.

“Understood. Let’s head to Mount Tai.”

Even though I learned the location of Dongyoung’s Genesis God, Ji Yu, there was nothing I could do right now. If Ji Yu was truly once called the Genesis God, he was certainly stronger than the Demon King. Charging at such a being with just the two of us—me and Cheon Woo-jin—would be pointless. It seemed we’d have to come back here after releasing at least two of the Seven Luminaries.

‘Let’s find out about Myo Cheong and the Demon God Ji Yu later.’

*Pa-at!*

Cheon Woo-jin and I finally used the Golden Lamp technique to head to Mount Tai. Instead of going directly to the Heavenly Altar, I moved to the outskirts of a nearby fortress.

“The soldiers are all passed out.”

I had intended to use the Invisibility Technique as soon as I arrived, but it was unnecessary. Soldiers lay unconscious all over the walls, and the inside of the fortress was no different. The sight of soldiers collapsed like straw dolls was utterly pitiful. I approached a nearby soldier and checked his pulse, surprised by his condition.

‘His spirit is suppressed.’

The soldiers at this moment were alive, but their spirits were suppressed, rendering them incapable of perceiving their surroundings or thinking. However, what was truly surprising was that there were a staggering five thousand elite troops stationed in this fortress. For five thousand men to be simultaneously suppressed like this was unfathomable by the standards of the Jianghu Martial World.

Then, Cheon Woo-jin, who was observing something with a technique, spoke up.

“King Mi-hu used the Seventy-two Transformations in the fortress to suppress the soldiers at once.”

“Seventy-two Transformations?”

“King Mi-hu has mastered seventy-two transformation techniques since the monster era. This is nothing to him.”

After saying that, Cheon Woo-jin looked at me intently and added,

“Why not get moving quickly without any hesitation?”

His words carried a strong conviction that King Mi-hu could not have lost, and there was an eagerness to finish this tedious task and rest. Realizing I could no longer dawdle, I had no choice but to head straight for the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai.

Upon arriving at the Heavenly Altar, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The corpse of Zhuge Yulong!

There were signs of a fierce battle, and in the midst of it all, Zhuge Yulong lay dead, turned into meat pulp by a giant club. His body was so mutilated that it was barely recognizable as human, yet I could tell it was him simply because it appeared as if numerous explosions had concentrated only around his corpse, and he lay there, blocking the entrance to the Heavenly Altar. As far as I knew, he was the only one who could end up like this.

Cheon Woo-jin looked around and said,

“King Mi-hu isn’t in sight. Has he completed his mission and returned to the Celestial Realm?”

“……”

I approached Zhuge Yulong’s corpse and attempted to determine the time of death. The medical techniques of Hua Tuo’s school included a way to measure the time of death.

‘At this rate… he must have struck and killed Zhuge Yulong immediately after the king’s ascension.’

The estimated time of death seemed to coincide closely with when we left Master Mangnyang’s village. This corpse had been left here for several shijins. But I didn’t let my guard down and quietly said to Cheon Woo-jin,

“As I mentioned, Zhuge Yulong has likely hidden his reserve body nearby. He will definitely attempt to resurrect using his clone.”

“Indeed? Then let’s go smash that reserve body!”

“That’s the plan.”

While I had indeed informed them in the Celestial Realm, King Mi-hu might have left the reserve body’s base unattended. Since we were already meddling with the Vermilion Bird, we had to either completely eradicate him or significantly weaken his power. I first headed towards the secret base of the Vermilion Bird near Mount Tai.

*Crash!*

“It’s destroyed…”

I muttered atop the ruins. I had intended to move with the Golden Lamp a moment ago but sensed something amiss and changed my destination to ground level, and that choice was indeed correct. The secret base of Zhuge Yulong was completely wrecked, as if a massive explosion of tens of thousands of barrels of explosives had gone off. The reserve clones inside must all be shattered.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked Cheon Woo-jin,

“Cheon Woo-jin, I had suggested there might be such a reserve base. But how do you think King Mi-hu would have found it?”

I refrained from giving him the specific location of the reserve base, thinking that the Celestial Realm might approach me for negotiation using that information. Against a powerless Zhuge Yulong, I could lead a few companions and demolish the reserve base myself. But from the look of things now, it seemed King Mi-hu had somehow managed to locate the reserve base and wipe it out with his formidable Seventy-two Transformations.

Cheon Woo-jin said,

“I heard from my older brother that you’re only familiar with Yeodong-bin, the Sword Master. However, while Yeodong-bin unusually pursues martial prowess and lacks much in sorcery, the other transformation masters have all reached impressive heights in their techniques. With King Mi-hu’s skill, he could certainly manage that.”

“It seems you have a very high opinion of King Mi-hu, but what kind of being is he to warrant such admiration?”

I retorted bluntly, causing Cheon Woo-jin to respond,

“Would you believe it if I said that being infiltrated the Celestial Realm during the era of the Demon King and turned the Heavenly Arcane World upside down? King Mi-hu is among the top masters among the transformation practitioners. He’s just not very well known on the ground.”

“……!!”

He turned the Heavenly Arcane World upside down?!

Stunned, I momentarily lost my words, then shook my head and replied,

“… Let’s check the other four places as well.”

I began moving to the secret bases that Zhuge Yulong prepared around the Five Great Mountains one by one. All of those bases had also turned into ruins as if they had been struck by bombs. King Mi-hu had certainly handled the task with great efficiency. At this rate, it could be said that nearly all of Zhuge Yulong’s reserve bodies were gone.

‘But he might have left reserve bodies in the Imperial Palace or elsewhere…’

Considering Zhuge Yulong’s meticulousness, who could break a bridge just by tapping it out of caution, I still couldn’t be sure that he was dead. Even in the past, it was only after Cheon Woo-jin personally sealed him that there was certainty. I thought it would be wise to continue moving under the assumption that Zhuge Yulong was still alive.

However, now that King Mi-hu had been this thorough, it was clear that his power had diminished. I felt that this was a suitable time to hold the Offering Ceremony, so I said to Cheon Woo-jin,

“… Let’s conduct the Offering Ceremony now.”

“Oh for crying out loud. You’ve been putting me to work and now you want to do it?”

“Before that, I need to find an expert who can serve as the Dharma Guardian.”

There was a possibility that Zhuge Yulong was lurking, waiting to strike. If he decided to ambush us, I wouldn’t stand a chance against him alone.

A short while later, I headed towards the Shadowless Gate and explained the situation to the Sword Demon. After listening to my tale, the Sword Demon nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course, I will help!”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll bring Master of Shadowless Sword along. With this lineup, we shouldn’t easily fall to the Dharma Guardian.”

Just as the Sword Demon said, I felt incredibly reassured as I brought him and the Master of Shadowless Sword to the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai. With those two here, I could sufficiently counter if Zhuge Yulong decided to attack. Once I realized all preparations were complete, I finally went to Jangryeong Valley to pick up Zhuge Sa.

As soon as Zhuge Sa saw me, he hurriedly spoke.

“Let’s get to the Imperial Palace right away. We need to grab the Divine Portrait and Crystal Stele.”

“Is that okay?”

“Don’t worry. While you’ve been roaming around, I’ve already set up the groundwork.”

I infiltrated the Imperial Palace with Zhuge Sa, stuffing the Divine Portrait and Crystal Stele into the Wooden Armor. Until now, I had avoided provoking the Imperial Palace and the “Old Ruler,” but I trusted Zhuge Sa’s word that he had already handled it.

Finally, upon arriving at Mount Tai, Zhuge Sa grinned.

“Alright, everyone’s gathered.”

All eyes turned to Zhuge Sa, and Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze upon seeing Zhuge Sa turned quite unfavorable. He spoke to me with an angry expression.

“You… have allied with the Demon Sorcerer?”

It seemed Cheon Woo-jin didn’t quite like Zhuge Sa practicing demon magic. Without me, he might have attacked and subdued Zhuge Sa without hesitation. However, I anticipated Cheon Woo-jin’s reaction, so I calmly persuaded him.

“Though Zhuge Sa is a Demon Sorcerer, he has repented and decided to assist me. I swear on my name that he will not be a hindrance to this ceremony.”

“Swearing on your name doesn’t mean I have to trust you.”

“Who are you to say such things?”

I smirked at Cheon Woo-jin with my arms crossed.

“Doubting me is the same as doubting Mangnyang.”

“Ugh…”

He bit his lip, clearly feeling the sting. Indeed, whenever Mangnyang was mentioned, he would falter. After a moment of contemplation, Cheon Woo-jin sighed.

“Damn… just finish the ceremony quickly.”

“Thank you.”

Zhuge Sa stepped forward and said,

“Then let me explain briefly. The purpose of this Offering Ceremony is to break the barrier of the Fire Element.”

“……!!”

Cheon Woo-jin exclaimed in surprise.

“What?”

“Is there a need for surprise? To acquire the Fire Element, we must break its barrier, and waiting for a solar eclipse is too much of a hassle. It’s not like we have the power to smash through it. So, we’re directly asking the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors at the highest level in the Celestial Realm. The one who set it up has the authority to dismantle it.”

With that, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“… Well, this plan wasn’t originally mine, but that of Baek Woong.”

That was right. The plan that flashed through my mind last time was to request the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to break the Fire Element’s barrier! I had contemplated that it would be ridiculous, but surprisingly, Zhuge Sa didn’t mock me and instead provided additional tasks I needed to do along the way. The intermediary steps like finding the massive obsidian or gathering the Dharma Guardian were carried out according to Zhuge Sa’s advice.

Zhuge Sa continued,

“And I’ve poked around the Imperial Palace a lot lately, annoying the dormant Enkai quite a bit, which I’ve calmed down with a separate Offering Ceremony. For the time being, we won’t have to worry about the ‘Old Ruler’ summoning Apostles or anything. For now, let’s concentrate on obtaining the Fire Element in a conventional way.”

“Conventional way?”

Cheon Woo-jin exclaimed in disbelief.

“This isn’t a conventional way! What madman calls upon the Three Sovereigns to gain the Fire Element?”

Zhuge Sa laughed.

“Hehe, it’s not conventional in the strict sense but it is a standard approach. So, Cheon Woo-jin, can you change the heavens and move the solar eclipse date ahead?”

“Why should I do that?”

“If you’re not going to help, just keep quiet. The difficulty of obtaining the Fire Element is insane, so this is the most appropriate approach.”

“Damn it…”

Cheon Woo-jin grumbled, but it seemed he quickly grasped Zhuge Sa’s words due to his exceptional intellect. It appeared he had merely vented at Zhuge Sa because of his distaste for Demon Sorcerers and frustration at having to continue to work for me.

Whooooosh!

Finally, preparations for the Offering Ceremony were complete, and Zhuge Sa and Cheon Woo-jin began setting flags to receive the celestial energy. Meanwhile, the Sword Demon and the Master of Shadowless Sword stood guard around the formation, serving as protectors so that any suspicious individuals could not hinder the ceremony.

‘I know exactly who to call.’

*Pa-at!*

A moment later, alongside the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace and from beyond the darkened sky, a powerful figure of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors wearing ceremonial robes began to descend. I had witnessed this scene often, so I watched it with an indifferent expression. Once the descent was complete, the being spoke.

[I am the Emperor’s descendant, the Sovereign of the Five Emperors, Jeon Wook. Who has summoned me?]

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Jeon Wook!

Known historically as a tyrant and cruel, yet in my experience, there has been no better Sovereign of the Three Sovereigns than Jeon Wook. Unlike the neurotic and negative Nüwa or the burdensome So-ho- Geumcheon, Jeon Wook was quite kind and showed great interest in matters concerning the world. Though I had offered the statue of Jeon Wook as a payment for the Great Peace Technique, I had ample grounds to summon Jeon Wook, as I had the Water Element he created, making it a potent medium.

As soon as Jeon Wook was summoned, I spoke.

“Jeon Wook! Please accept my offering.”

As I took out the heart of the Divine Portrait and offered it to him, Jeon Wook appeared satisfied and said,

[Well done. What do you wish for?]

I realized this was a gamble. No matter how friendly Jeon Wook seemed, it was still possible for me to die here under false charges. However, I took a deep breath and summoned my courage to speak.

“I wish for the barrier of the Fire Element to be lifted. And please ensure that the Celestial Realm does not act upon the lifting of the barrier.”

[……]

Jeon Wook gazed at me with an expression full of confusion for a while before responding.

[That is possible, mortal. But do you know where the Fire Element is?]

“Yes.”

[So once you have the Fire Element, will you conduct another Offering Ceremony to gain my permission?]

“Yes.”

It appeared Jeon Wook had quickly discerned our intentions.

The good point of this plan was that unlike acquiring it through great luck, I could survive after obtaining the Fire Element as well. While there was the downside of draining nearly all my treasures from performing several ceremonies, it was no different than dying if I relied on great luck. Instead, the advantage lay in surviving with the Fire Element to proceed to the next action.

Jeon Wook remained silent for a while before bursting into laughter.

[Kuhahahaha… Interesting. It’s been ages since a human tried to acquire the Fire Element so openly.]

“… Is that not acceptable?”

[There is no reason it cannot be accepted. But do you understand what the Fire Element means in this world?]

“The Fire Element symbolizes the ancient pact, reflects the truce between the Three Sovereigns and the Old Ruler, and is proof of humanity being safeguarded under the Three Sovereigns’ grace.”

[……]

Jeon Wook seemed momentarily astonished and at a loss for words. As the situation surrounding their lord shifted, the followers of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace began to stir as well. Jeon Wook, pondering for quite some time, finally said,

[Who are you? How do you know all this?]

I replied nonchalantly,

“I already possess the Water Element. Is there anyone closer to the secrets of the Fire Element than I?”

[Hmm…]

“It may be bothersome for you to acquire the Fire Element, but currently, the Imperial Palace of the Great Ming Empire has significantly infiltrated by the otherworldly forces. As this is a matter involving the use of humans, it is also a problem that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors cannot readily meddle in. Let me resolve that issue for you.”

[Are you saying you will manage the otherworldly forces?]

“Yes. For that, I need the power of the Fire Element.”

Jeon Wook appeared to be pondering over this unexpected situation. After a long moment, he finally spoke.

[… Very well. By your request, I will lift the barrier of the Fire Element.]

Whoooosh!

With a flick of his hand, what seemed like a disk of light flew off toward the distant horizon. As the disk vanished beyond the horizon, Jeon Wook continued to observe that horizon before speaking.

[Very interesting… What is your name?]

“I am Baek Woong.”

The next moment, I received an unexpected proposal.

[Baek Woong! Would you become my Apostle?]