Reincarnation Sword God

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00486 Dark Heaven Village ————————————————————————=

The sound of a guzheng echoed.

A delicate yet brilliant sound, reminiscent of twilight, flowed into my ears. I slowly opened my eyes, captivated by the majestic yet graceful melody that seized my heart and mind. And then, I realized I was standing before some strange architectural structure.

‘Where is this…?’

I noticed that this place was incredibly bizarre.

The sun and moon hovered in the sky simultaneously. The heavens were divided in half by yin and yang. On the left side, a bright blue sky basked in warm sunlight stretched wide, while on the right side, a full moon shone brightly, crafting the night.

Moreover, the boundary between day and night was this very building I was standing in front of. Curiously, the line bisecting the divided world was drawn right where I stood. I examined this unusual structure carefully, which looked to be an enormous gate.

What on earth is going on?

Where am I?

I was certain I had utilized the Great Destruction and merged with the Sea God, hadn’t I?

Just as I was bewildered and unable to act, a voice echoed in my mind.

[Apostle.]

Suddenly, a strange figure appeared before me, draped in official robes, accompanied by darkness. Upon closer inspection, this figure didn’t seem human but was instead made of thick, swirling dark clouds. It vaguely resembled Jeon Wook but was distinctly different in its ceremonial headgear and attire.

Anyway, it seemed to possess a high rank. I opened my mouth to ask.

[Who are you?]

Huh?

What just came out of my mouth wasn’t a voice but a spiritual language. Does that mean this place isn’t the material realm? As I quickly organized my thoughts, the figure that referred to me as an Apostle bowed to me and spoke.

[I am referred to as Yeol, managing the Wu Heaven Gate.]

I was taken aback, having recognized that place and name from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

[Is this… Wu Heaven Gate?]

Wu Heaven Gate is known to be a legacy of Jeon Wook, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, built on Sun and Moon Mountain, and is a place where celestial bodies like the sun and moon are governed. The reason I was truly shocked was that Sun and Moon Mountain and Wu Heaven Gate were said to exist at the “End of the World,” and myths from a prehistoric age made their existence dubious.

Yeol answered my question.

[Indeed. The sun and moon converge here.]

[Am I dead?]

I aimed to clarify that first. Being here, where even immortals and taoist masters regarded as a myth, and speaking in spiritual language, made it highly likely I was indeed dead. Yeol hesitated for a moment before responding.

[This is a department unrelated to the Afterlife.]

[……?]

[Please follow me. The King is waiting.]

His tone was incredibly matter-of-fact. Since he wasn’t human, I couldn’t read his expression, but I felt strongly that Yeol treated me in a thoroughly formal manner. Just to be sure, I scanned my body, but as expected, not a single item I carried, like the Heavenly Secret or Golden Lamp, was present.

I spoke bluntly.

[Why should I trust you and follow? How can I be sure you’re not trying to deceive me by claiming to be Jeon Wook’s subordinate?]

[Do as you wish. If you cannot pass through the Wu Heaven Gate by your own strength, you will wander here until the universe perishes.]

[……]

Suddenly, I recalled the strong possibility that the world where the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors resided might be a dimension incredibly far from reality. Yeol’s words seemed likely not to be empty words.

[I will keep the door open. Please follow me.]

Swish…

Yeol turned his head and began to walk toward the Wu Heaven Gate, soon vanishing into the door. The interior beyond the door was filled with distorted flashes of chaos, making it impossible to see what was inside.

‘It seems I have no choice but to go in.’

I decided to follow Yeol’s words. After all, remaining still in this situation wouldn’t yield any changes. With half anticipation and half fear, I stepped into the immense Wu Heaven Gate. The gate was unbelievably massive, spanning several feet wide and towering many stories high, yet curiously, I felt like I was being sucked in and compressed the moment I entered.

When I emerged from the gate, I found myself inside some kind of palace. All around me, phantoms floated, each wrapped in a divine aura, presenting grotesque appearances unlike regular spirits. However, despite their bizarre appearances, I felt no malice.

[This way.]

*Glug*

I swallowed hard while following Yeol. The ancient spirits scattered around were on a different level from mere specters—small divine beings in their own right. Although their appearances seemed petty, the power they held likely matched or even exceeded that of a Great Immortal. Furthermore, I could feel that Yeol, who was guiding me, possessed even greater divine power than these spirits, allowing me to acutely sense this was indeed the palace of Jeon Wook among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

This was the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace.

The foundation of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors that continued from the prehistoric age.

The spirits glanced at Yeol as he walked past, quickly losing interest and returning to their own tasks. They were playing a game, which appeared to have ten additional rows compared to the human world’s game. Overall, the atmosphere felt peaceful as they enjoyed themselves.

I continued to follow Yeol, but after passing through several rooms, I felt it strange and asked.

[Yeol. How far are we going?]

[We are heading to the audience hall where the King awaits.]

[But we’ve already passed through dozens of rooms and halls, haven’t we?]

I had explored the palace of the Emperor of the Ming Empire, yet it wasn’t this expansive. Following Yeol, I felt we must have surpassed at least 40 rooms up till now, yet there was still no sign of arrival. Yeol responded to my statement.

[We will pass three gates beyond 99 rooms. We’re halfway there, so don’t worry.]

[……]

An incredible expanse. Each room was at least several feet in size, creating an impossibly vast palace. Along the way, I spotted giant guards of enormous size, and upon seeing Yeol, they bowed their heads.

‘Yeol seems to hold a quite high rank.’

Throughout our journey, Yeol had never bowed to anyone, but all the spirits we encountered greeted him politely.

According to the legends of the mythological age, this was natural. Yeol was the grandson of Jeon Wook and the son of the supreme deity, Ri. He could be considered on par with the Great Immortal Peng Zuo and held a significant role in the same dimension as Jeon Wook. Obviously, he must be a formidable being. However, since Yeol’s appearance didn’t match the records from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, I felt something was off and asked.

[Your appearance is different from what’s recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Is the Classic incorrect?]

[… I had that appearance back then.]

[What do you mean?]

[The appearance isn’t very important to a god.]

Yeol’s enigmatic reply made it clear he didn’t wish to delve deeper into the matter. I walked alongside Yeol for a long while, and we finally reached a gigantic audience hall.

*Bang!*

A space expansive enough to cover several miles! This couldn’t be called a building; it felt as if all of heaven and earth were turned into a palace. I noticed a colossal dark giant sitting on the throne, looking down at me.

The dark giant wore ancient attire, reminiscent of what I had seen during the offering ceremony. It was as if the image from before had been enlarged hundreds of times, causing me to catch my breath. Thousands of ancient spirits stood in formation, standing guard, maintaining silence and majesty alongside the throne.

Yeol stepped forward, knelt, and said,

[My King, I have brought the Apostle.]

[Well done, Yeol. Return to Wu Heaven Gate.]

[I shall heed your command.]

*Whoosh*

The moment Yeol finished his reply, he vanished like smoke. Truly, being a divine entity, performing spatial relocation must come as naturally as breathing. I stood awkwardly in place, and I felt the massive figure watching me with a hint of a smile.

[Welcome. My Apostle.]

As expected.

I didn’t know the ancient rites well, but I recalled what I knew and bowed to him.

[I greet Jeon Wook.]

[Yes.]

Before me was undoubtedly Jeon Wook of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. For some unknown reason, I had been summoned to Jeon Wook’s Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, which supposedly lay beyond dimensions. I did not sense any displeasure from Jeon Wook at the moment.

On the contrary, he seemed pleased. So I asked him,

[… Why am I here?]

I had inadvertently ended up in the audience hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, following Yeol, the gatekeeper of Wu Heaven Gate, but I still had no idea why I was there. Jeon Wook answered my question.

[Because I called for you.]

A clear answer. My expectation had manifested into reality, but I remained at a loss for understanding and said to him,

[I thought I was in mortal danger… is this the Underworld?]

[Hahaha. This is not the Underworld. Although this place is filled with ghosts, it is entirely separate from the Underworld.]

Jeon Wook burst into laughter and added,

[My Apostle, Baek Woong.]

[Yes.]

[You’ve accomplished a great feat.]

[……]

I realized he was aware of the incident concerning the Sea God. However, I was unsure of what to say before Jeon Wook, and as I hesitated, he continued,

*Boom!*

In the next moment, a lavish feast was laid out before me, similarly arranged in front of the spirits on either side. Jeon Wook surveyed the assembly and declared,

[First, let us eat.]

[Ohhh!]

The spirits cheered. Feeling a burst of excitement, Jeon Wook continued,

[Enjoy your meal.]

*Chomp chomp*

Thousands of spirits began to eat the food before them with relish. Following the command of their lord, it seemed acceptable to eat quite greedily.

[Musicians, play.]

*Ding ding*

Dozens of ghost musicians began to play ancient guzhengs and instruments, producing harmonious melodies. I wondered if the guzheng sound I had heard earlier resonated from here. Though I didn’t know much about music, the skill exhibited by these spirits was evident from the quality of their sound.

I hesitated for a moment and then slowly picked up my chopsticks, grabbing a piece of meat dish.

‘Huh? This!’

A fragrant flavor spread across my mouth. It was undoubtedly the best dish I had ever tasted among all the food I had eaten. Though this was a dish I had never encountered before, its taste was so superb I didn’t care about its appearance.

What kind of meat is this? It didn’t seem like pork, beef, or chicken. The texture and satisfaction it provided were overwhelmingly superior. Enchanted by the taste, I ate several more dishes, all of which were delicacies.

As I enjoyed the feast, Jeon Wook spoke.

[The Sea God purge you undertook was observed by most of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.]

[Urgh.]

As I poured a drink for my self-constructed cup, I nearly choked. What was that all of a sudden?

When I placed my chopsticks and the cup down and glanced at him, Jeon Wook continued.

[Originally, we had made a non-aggression pact with the “Old Rulers.” Thus, there were various discussions involving you carrying the Seven Luminaries before you clashed with the Sea God. Particularly, Nüwa suggested that you should be killed to make you the protector of the Seven Luminaries.]

[……]

[Just like Gong Gong, who opposed me.]

That was genuinely terrifying.

If Nüwa set her mind to it, and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and Celestial Realm acted, I wouldn’t stand a chance and would end up like a turtle without legs. Surely I’d be doomed to the pitiful existence of being a spirit bound to the Seven Luminaries, neither dead nor alive.

[But I refused Nüwa’s proposal, and we contacted “them” to coordinate our opinions. As a result, we agreed that the Sea God deserved to die.]

[… What?]

[He has been acting too boldly, taking advantage of the moment of the pact. The “Old Rulers” were also eager to make him taste suffering. Their interests aligned, and we agreed to eliminate the Sea God, watching your battle unfold.]

[Hmm.]

The words from the Master of the Twelve Joules about the Sea God incurring the ire of the “Old Rulers” seemed to hold true. At the very least, it didn’t seem like the Master of the Twelve Joules had lied about the Sea God purge.

[When you reached the brink of danger, we were willing to take the risk and assist you, but it turns out it wasn’t necessary.]

If so, eliminating the Sea God might not have been a problem. I calmed myself down while listening to Jeon Wook and organized my thoughts before speaking.

[It seems the Master of the Twelve Joules tried to rapidly diminish the Sea God’s forces by destroying the nearby Fisherman’s City.]

[That would be so. That is indeed the best method for a mortal. However, the Sea God is, after all, one of the “Old Rulers,” and his perception extends throughout the Great Ocean, so he would eventually catch wind of that attempt.]

[So, they had no chance of success?]

[It was simply bad luck. The Sea God could have been out and about nearby, waking up in a hurry.]

So, it was merely a matter of luck that I bumped into the Sea God.

I grew curious about what exactly the “moment of the pact” entailed and decided to ask him.

[What is the “moment of the pact”?]

[That knowledge is a secret shared only by the Great Gods, and I cannot disclose it to you.]

Jeon Wook cut me off sharply. I instinctively felt that if Jeon Wook spoke like that, any further prodding would be futile. It appeared the “moment of the pact” was a highly significant secret.