Reincarnation Sword God

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00453 암천향(暗天鄕) ————————————————————————=

Vajra Unbreakable!

I had heard that term many times before. It referred to a state of absolute self-defense in martial arts, transcending both internal and external techniques, and it was known as a legend of the Martial Arts World itself. Some would even praise the sturdy and powerful external techniques as Vajra Unbreakable, but the meaning wasn’t that simple.

True Vajra Unbreakable fundamentally meant being able to withstand the attacks of powerful martial artists with a warrior’s wounds, and it could resist even techniques like the Invincible Sword. If that were possible, no matter the means, there was an unwritten agreement among the peak masters of the martial world that one could be called a Vajra Unbreakable Deity.

The reason for such a peculiar consensus was that almost no master presumed to be Vajra Unbreakable had emerged in the martial world until now. Many experts viewed the fervently revered peak as merely an illusion created by the admiration for one ultimate point.

In other words, a realm of fantasy!

I was perplexed and spoke to the Sword Demon.

“Vajra Unbreakable? Just because I became a disciple of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors…”

“The fact that you didn’t show off your talent is the biggest proof.”

The Sword Demon replied and subtly nodded while looking at the Master of Shadowless Sword.

“Master. What do you think? I believe Baek Woong is Vajra Unbreakable, do you agree?”

Hearing those words, the Master of Shadowless Sword gravely nodded.

“… I acknowledge it.”

“……!!”

“The previous attack contained the lethality of a fatal strike due to my inexperience. If a human had received that attack, their body would have split in a cross shape and burst into dozens of pieces at that moment. Yet, Baek Woong ended up merely wounded. That is undoubtedly the mark of the Vajra Unbreakable Deity!”

After hearing the Master of Shadowless Sword, I couldn’t question it anymore. With both of them guaranteeing it, no one could offer another interpretation. If that’s possible, then it would be someone like the Master of the White Lotus Sect or the Twelve Joules, or perhaps Miyamoto Musashi who transcended human limits.

A moment later, I touched my cut wound with trembling hands. This time, the wound had healed without leaving a trace behind.

“Whew.”

“Terrifying. Do you also have regeneration abilities…”

The Sword Demon was looking at me with a truly shocked expression. This was understandable since the Master of Shadowless Sword’s technique had been honed for decades by a peak master. Receiving the full force of the sword strength, no matter how powerful one’s internal power was, it was normal to get injured or die. To get hit and recover in less than a meal like this was beyond common sense.

At that time, Zhuge Sa, who had been watching from the side, grinned.

“Hey, Baek Woong.”

“Why?”

Swish!

Zhuge Sa pulled out a long sword. I looked at him in alarm, thinking, “No way.”

“Let’s just poke your belly once.”

“You crazy bastard!”

I exclaimed in surprise, but Zhuge Sa replied calmly.

“Why? Just because you have Vajra Unbreakable and regeneration, we should test it out a bit. How else would we know about the durability and lower the risk of death? Just a couple of times…”

“You’re talking nonsense. Forget it!”

I felt utterly ridiculous, to the point where I forgot how well I had worked in sync with Zhuge Sa until now. A typical martial artist would likely feel immense emotion or inspiration after witnessing such Vajra Unbreakable skills. However, this mad sorcerer wanted to stab my belly to check the performance of Vajra Unbreakable. It was something I hadn’t realized before, but he was indeed a genuine lunatic.

The Sword Demon glanced at Zhuge Sa with a puzzled expression before turning to me.

“Baek Woong. Zhuge Sa’s words aren’t entirely wrong. Just make sure it’s not an extreme method of poking your belly with a blade. It wouldn’t be bad to injure yourself to learn.”

“Um…”

“Let’s simply test it out.”

As the Sword Demon persuaded me, I began to regain my composure. After a moment of thought, I took my sword and began to press it against my forearm to draw a line.

‘ If I trail a sword with no energy and without invoking my self-defense energy…’

Drip!

As the first experiment began, blood indeed flowed. However, even though I pressed the blade hard, it barely pierced half an inch. It felt as if my body had transformed into something both taut and flexible. I felt no fear of my muscles being harmed, sending a shiver down my spine.

‘ Then this time, I’ll channel my energy into the sword…’

Blood flowed again, but the sensation remained the same. After applying considerable internal power and achieving sword energy strength, I cut my forearm deeper. Yet still, it didn’t cut beyond a certain level, and I felt no injury that could cripple my arm. I could tell that if I performed first aid with my medical skills, I would be combat-ready again.

I ended the experiment silently with a sigh.

“Phew… What an incredible ability.”

“Of course. I never expected to witness true Vajra Unbreakable in my lifetime…”

The astonishment in their eyes was shared not just by the Sword Demon, but also the Master of Shadowless Sword. That was understandable because the moment I gained the Vajra Unbreakable Deity, my battle strength had presumably skyrocketed.

Even if my overall martial proficiency or the might of the peak level hadn’t increased, merely being able to intercept an opponent’s mind control technique with a graze was astounding in itself. It meant that I couldn’t lose against an opponent of similar skill, and furthermore, if it ended in a mutual death, it would always favor me. Moreover, the risk of death had significantly decreased, making such a blessing remarkably rare.

At that moment, Cheon Woo-jin, who had been looking incredulously, spoke up.

“Truly, martial artists interpret things as they please.”

Everyone turned their gaze to Cheon Woo-jin. He sat casually on a rock and said gruffly.

“Let me ask, has anyone here ever seen a genuine entity of Vajra Unbreakable?”

At least I hadn’t.

“Cough, cough.”

Zhuge Sa simply shook his head, clearly indicating with a wry smile that he hadn’t. When I subtly turned my gaze toward the Sword Demon and the Master of Shadowless Sword, they both cleared their throats awkwardly and spoke.

“Hmmm… I’ve heard rumors that a monk from Shaolin reached that state.”

“I’ve seen masters of Qi Unification and the Golden Bell style, but someone worthy of the title of Vajra Unbreakable…”

Cheon Woo-jin smiled as if he had expected such a response.

“See? The power you see in Baek Woong is simply being wedged into the idea of Vajra Unbreakable because it looks the most similar to what martial artists envision. The truth is, no one in the world knows if the power bestowed by Jeon Wook is indeed Vajra Unbreakable.”

“Don’t know? Are you saying Baek Woong’s ability is not Vajra Unbreakable?”

“I didn’t say that. I only suggested it might be a different ability that resembles Vajra Unbreakable.”

“Hmmm.”

Cheon Woo-jin’s words made sense. After all, Jeon Wook hadn’t explicitly stated he’d given me the ability of Vajra Unbreakable, had he? Zhuge Sa chimed in.

“Alright, the powers you gained as a disciple will soon reveal themselves. How about we save time for now and start moving?”

“Let’s do that.”

We swiftly dispersed. The Sword Demon and the Master of Shadowless Sword needed to return to their original places as they were Martial Artists. Moreover, I didn’t have a solid reason to keep Cheon Woo-jin around him, and when I suggested going to see the Seven Luminaries together, Cheon Woo-jin firmly said,

“No.”

“Aren’t you interested in the Seven Luminaries?”

“I am, but that’s only up to the point of it being a non-dangerous matter. You guys are going to risk it all for the Guardians of Fire Element; why should I fight such a dangerous battle? Are you asking me to risk my life for free?”

“……”

“Don’t take advantage of people for free.”

Cheon Woo-jin retorted harshly before vanishing with his teleportation technique. I couldn’t deny that what he said wasn’t entirely wrong, biting my lip. He was currently among the most capable allies I could recruit, but handling him wouldn’t be easy.

Zhuge Sa remarked.

“Let’s hurry. It’s best to prepare in advance.”

“Preparation?”

“Don’t we need to plant some eyes and ears?”

I instantly understood the meaning behind Zhuge Sa’s words. Soon, Zhuge Sa and I arrived at the fortress on Mount Tai, and approached the unconscious commanders under King Mi-hu’s sorcery, beginning to apply the Soul Exchange Technique. With the Soul Exchange Technique, I brought back their white, allowing me to observe their sight and hearing or control their actions whenever I wanted. I could also see this as practical experience of the Soul Exchange Technique.

I returned with Zhuge Sa to Jangryeong Valley. I pondered for a moment before asking Zhuge Sa.

“Zhuge Sa, is it alright if we bring the Fire Element immediately?”

Now that the barrier of the Fire Element had vanished, bringing it was as easy as a stroll in the park. I could simply use the Golden Lamp technique to go back and forth. However, since I had carelessly acted last time and got burned by the Fire Spirit, I was consulting with my strategist.

“Ahaha, I expected you to ask that.”

Clank!

Zhuge Sa stepped on a platform, peeling the skin off a demon beast with his machinery, continuing.

“First, let’s wait. To seize a more solid opportunity, we need to prepare properly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Baek Woong, don’t you remember? There’s another treasure hidden in the seal of the Fire Element…”

“Ah!”

I suddenly realized what Zhuge Sa meant and exclaimed.

“Dragon Flower Tree!”

The Dragon Flower Tree!

That was one of the pieces of information I had obtained before.

[ The Master asked me to find the Dragon Flower Tree. Ever since that day, I gained the privilege of free access to the White Lotus Sect’s stronghold, and I could talk with the Dharma Protectors, albeit awkwardly. I also traveled around the world searching for the existence of the Dragon Flower Tree.]

[ The Dragon Flower Tree that the Master mentioned is a variety from the beginning of time that contains the divine power required for Maitreya to descend. It is also a location where a divine being known as a Buddha can descend.]

[ The Dragon Flower Tree is said to be a being that waits eons by warming its seeds with the energy of the Fire Element near its secret treasure. In other words, if I can find the place where the Fire Element’s secret treasure is hidden, I should be able to obtain the Dragon Flower Tree too.]

This was the information revealed by Cheon Sang-kwai, one of the five great physicians of the world! It was about the Dragon Flower Tree hidden next to the secret treasure of the Fire Element.

‘ Hmmm, the Dragon Flower Tree…’

I had been too caught up in the difficulty of obtaining the Fire Element that I hadn’t considered the Dragon Flower Tree until now. While organizing my thoughts about the Dragon Flower Tree, I spoke to Zhuge Sa.

“Zhuge Sa, in the Fire Element’s Peach Garden, I only saw peach trees; I didn’t see any Dragon Flower Tree. Could it be buried in the nearby land?”

“Perhaps so?”

Clank!

Pressing the platform once more, Zhuge Sa cut the leather and continued speaking.

“That’s why I told you to wait. We could bring out the Fire Element right now, but we wouldn’t get the Dragon Flower Tree. Moreover, the moment Jeon Wook retrieves the Fire Element, he will restore the barrier, and the opportunity to acquire the Dragon Flower Tree will become vastly distant.”

“I see…”

I sighed, realizing the unexpected angle. To gain the Fire Element, it was necessary to also acquire the Dragon Flower Tree for maximum benefit. Zhuge Sa stopped cutting the leather and stood up from the platform.

“I don’t know what kind of ability the Dragon Flower Tree possesses, but there must be a reason the Master searched for it to heal the illness of the Young Master. The Master probably had an inkling of the existence of the Seven Luminaries, but it’s worth noting that he prioritized finding the Dragon Flower Tree over them.”

I suddenly thought of something because of Zhuge Sa’s words.

“Are you suggesting the Dragon Flower Tree might also have the ability to cure curses, like the Black and White Lotus?”

“Most likely. The Master is knowledgeable. He may have thought of searching for the Dragon Flower Tree after reading something about its inheritance in a book. Moreover, he didn’t ask Dongbangmuke to find out about its abilities, but only its location, right?”

Zhuge Sa folded his arms as if it was obvious.

“From the beginning, the Master must have sent Dongbangmuke with knowledge of what abilities the Dragon Flower Tree possesses. Therefore, the person who knows the most about the abilities of the Dragon Flower Tree is the Master. If he knows its abilities, then he must also know what to do to harvest it.”

“Hmm…”

“We should clearly see what needs to be done.”

I nodded at Zhuge Sa’s words.

“I must extract the information the Master knows about the Dragon Flower Tree as much as I can.”

“First, we need to find out exactly what the Dragon Flower Tree is before we can devise a method to retrieve it quickly. Simply overturning the land of the Fire Element’s Peach Garden with earth techniques won’t cut it.”

To discover the information on the Dragon Flower Tree, I had to negotiate with the Master. I was lost in thought due to this unexpected premise.

‘ I never thought I’d get embroiled with the Master like this…’

I didn’t dislike the Master, but I couldn’t easily ally myself with or join his ranks. The path of the Non-Birth Mother’s Dharma Technique and True Martial Illumination was extremely perilous, possibly leading to severe repercussions from the Celestial Realm or the ancient sovereigns. At the very least, I shouldn’t engage with the Master until I had the ability to control him after acquiring the Seven Luminaries. The chances of ending up with the same fate as in my nineteenth life were significantly high.

Zhuge Sa grinned.

“… However, given that you are limited in treasures to present to the Master for high-level information, you’ve sacrificed quite a lot in offerings to reach this far.”

“Ugh…”

That was a painful yet accurate observation. I usually had plenty of treasures to the point I couldn’t manage them, but I had given away quite a few to the Great Immortal, Offering Ceremony, Cheon Woo-jin, and others. At this point, apart from absolutely necessary things, I couldn’t claim to have much in hand. Moreover, since the Master was a scheming raccoon-like figure, if I wasn’t careful, he might rob me of everything I had.

“What should I do?”

After ruminating for a while without coming up with a suitable plan, I sought Zhuge Sa’s advice. Zhuge Sa then said,

“I mentioned earlier that contacting the Master is too risky. In that case, it’s better to look for someone else who might know about the Dragon Flower Tree. There would only be one suitable person.”

“……?”

Zhuge Sa’s eyes sharpened.

“Let’s negotiate with the Zhuyong Tribe in the Southern Kingdom.”