Reincarnation Sword God

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00489 Dark Heaven Village

“Who possesses the greatest martial arts in the world?”

If that’s the case, a handful of names popped into my mind. As I stared at Mangnyang, he raised three fingers and said, “The Master of the White Lotus Sect, Miyamoto Musashi, and the Master of the Twelve Joules. These three represent the peak experts of this era and are embodiments of the Absolute Realm. They essentially represent the Central Plains, Dongyoung, and Goryeo. If you’re not on their level, they won’t be able to help you.”

“…”

“However, you can’t get in touch with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Though it would be easy to ask him for assistance and let the White Lotus Sect rise to greatness, you, Baek Woong, understand better than anyone why that’s not feasible.”

“I know.”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect spares no means in pursuit of his almost obsessive goal of achieving True Martial. I had personally experienced how disastrous it could be to get entangled with him. Furthermore, in this life, I had already heard from Han Baek-ryeong of the Fire Spirit Techniques to eliminate the leader.

Mangnyang continued, “As for Miyamoto Musashi, he has agreed to assist you for ten years, so you can seek his guidance on martial arts. The Master of the Twelve Joules appreciates the great deed you’ve done and won’t show hostility towards you for a while.”

“So, should I learn from Miyamoto Musashi then?”

“For now, that seems like the most reasonable approach, but…” Mangnyang smiled faintly. “I think Miyamoto Musashi will hardly help with your martial arts improvement.”

“Why is that?”

“Just look at the Book of Five Relationships. He’s a born prodigy, an exceptional genius when it comes to martial arts. He is, without a doubt, the strongest expert in Dongyoung’s history, and as a genius, he cannot possibly comprehend the feelings of the dullards. I doubt he’ll be good at teaching.”

“Hm… that makes sense.”

“Even if you tried sparring, the difference in levels would be too vast to practice effectively.”

“Guess so…”

I nodded in agreement with Mangnyang’s words. Geniuses often lack the ability to teach others effectively. Their exceptional skills make it hard to relate to someone of ordinary talent. Occasionally, those who are both geniuses and skilled teachers are simply geniuses in that area as well. I learned that deeply from Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong. Especially when dealing with a prodigy like Miyamoto Musashi, I shouldn’t expect too much in terms of teaching.

“Though learning from the Master of the Twelve Joules is a risky gamble. Besides, didn’t he tell you he wouldn’t discuss martial arts with you?”

“He did say that.”

“The Master of the Twelve Joules’ martial arts are likely to be bizarre and far outside the norm. Thus, learning from him would probably be blocked.”

“Mangnyang. What exactly are you trying to say?”

“What I’m getting at is that the best master isn’t necessarily the top expert.”

Mangnyang extended his fingers again, this time showing three.

“Let’s look at alternative options: Dokgo Seong, the Sword Demon, and Jin So-cheong.”

“…”

“As you know, Dokgo Seong might just be the best master to resolve your issues. He’s currently the top expert of the Thunder God Lineage and a master of the Thunder God Sword Dance, so he can definitely resonate with you and research alongside you. If I had to recommend a master, I would have pushed Dokgo Seong without hesitation.”

“… Is there a reason why that wouldn’t work?”

Mangnyang nodded.

“Because the one slash you executed against the Sea God using the Thunder God Sword Dance is an unprecedented level of skill!”

“…?”

“Dokgo Seong has been tirelessly training the Thunder God Sword Dance for decades and hasn’t reached the level you hit with that one slash. According to Baek Woong, maybe in fifty years, Dokgo Seong might reach that level, but certainly not any time soon. You know that the technique you used against the Sea God wasn’t the Sword Thunder.”

“That’s true.”

“At that moment, you achieved [something] that couldn’t even be defined by the framework of the Thunder God Lineage or the Thunder God Sword Dance. That’s a realm that cannot possibly be defined by human standards. Therefore, there’s no guarantee that even Dokgo Seong could provide answers to your issue. Unless you give him obsidian to persuade him, he’d likely just dismiss your claims as nonsense.”

“Hmm.”

“No matter how much of a master Dokgo Seong is, he cannot explain a divine move.”

That was reasonable. Yet giving Dokgo Seong obsidian just to share secrets felt wrong. As Zhuge Sa warned before, Dokgo Seong was not someone who would easily help others and had a selfish side. If there was a chance of betrayal, making that choice would be difficult.

“Next up, the Sword Demon. He is currently learning the Twin Sword Technique from Han Baek-ryeong and is the most likely candidate to break through to peak expertise and enter the Absolute Realm shortly. Plus, he is very close to you and someone you can trust, so there’s a way to get his advice.”

“That sounds good.”

“Lastly, Jin So-cheong.”

“I don’t understand… why is Jin So-cheong in this?”

I scratched my head. All five mentioned so far were credible, but I couldn’t see why Jin So-cheong was included. Mangnyang smiled again.

“Of course, right now, Jin So-cheong is nothing more than a mere puppy compared to you. However, if you put your mind to it and cultivate him, he will undoubtedly become a tremendous expert before long.”

“You want me to give him obsidian to cultivate him?”

“That’s something you’ve done regularly up till now. Thanks to that, you restored the Three Treasure Technique and obtained clues for your next level.”

“…”

“I understand why you’re displeased. His talent is just mind-boggling.”

I bit my lip repeatedly as I pondered. Finally, I sighed, acknowledging Mangnyang’s words.

“Ah – I was just starting to shrug off Jin So-cheong’s shadow and was secretly pleased. But now I have to endure him surpassing me again…”

That’s right.

I was terrified of Jin So-cheong’s talent. I did not feel afraid of the otherworldly races or divine deities, but Jin So-cheong’s absurd talent had left me in shock throughout my twenty lifetimes. To others, it appeared that he was merely growing faster, but those who felt his talent firsthand saw it differently.

The ultimate genius of martial gods!

That was the only fitting way to describe Jin So-cheong’s talent. Every martial artist I met, no matter how good, expressed awe at his abilities. I had just started using the Three Treasure Technique proficiently and finally felt a sense of pride, but I didn’t want to be trampled by Jin So-cheong’s talent again.

At that point, Zhuge Sa, who had been listening, chuckled.

“Haha. Hyun, you’ve got quite the personality. You must have something you really want to say, yet you’re just roasting that foolish Baek Woong.”

“Haha…”

Mangnyang forced a chuckle at that, and I tilted my head in confusion. Zhuge Sa looked at me and said,

“Listen closely. I’m guessing you have an idea, but what Hyun suggests next is the real proposal.”

“Hmm.”

Mangnyang cleared his throat and spoke up.

“The first six suggestions are things you could achieve easily just by traversing the continent. Meeting and negotiating would be all it takes. But the two methods I’m going to propose next require special procedures, so hear me out.”

“Two methods?”

Mangnyang explained, “First. Take the black token and resurrect Lee Cheong-un from the Thunder God Lineage.”

“…!!”

“Lee Cheong-un is the strongest in the history of the Thunder God Lineage and is engaged with Absolute Realm. He possesses both the Thunder God Sword Dance and the Thunder Spirit Technique. Unlike Dokgo Seong, who is simply at the threshold of the Absolute Realm, he may fully comprehend the essence of the Thunder God Sword Dance. This is the supreme proposal that surpasses all six previous suggestions.”

He continued with a slight grin.

“However, it’s advisable not to choose this option for two reasons.”

“What are those reasons?”

“First, Jeon Wook, the Sovereign of the Three Sovereigns, directly foresaw a dangerous event coming your way. Given it’s the divine warning, a crisis will surely arise, and the black token, capable of turning the tide, is too valuable to waste simply to resurrect Lee Cheong-un.”

“And the second reason?”

“As you know, the moment Lee Cheong-un comes back to life, the Heavenly Spirit Pill will alert Primordial Spirit to his presence, and the Master of the White Lotus Sect will become highly interested in our affairs. Besides, Lee Cheong-un is not an easy person to handle, and I cannot guarantee he will be obedient to your wishes. If you let someone of such caliber loose in Jianghu while only seeking one insight into martial arts, it’s impossible to predict the variables.”

That made sense. I felt that in this life, it was better to postpone resurrecting Lee Cheong-un. Reflecting on Mangnyang’s words, I finally spoke up.

“Then the real proposal you have in mind is about to come, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

“What is it? Why the suspense?”

I grumbled, and Mangnyang replied,

“The last method is… to confront an absolute master of martial arts whom you’ve been aware of but never faced properly. There is a way to learn from him.”

“Is there really such a person?”

“He is none other than…”

Mangnyang slowly uttered the name of that existence. When I heard it, I was taken aback; it was completely unexpected.

“What…? Is that really possible?”

This was completely out of the blue. But it intrigued me beyond measure. I felt my heart swell with anticipation for the first time in a while.

“Why wouldn’t it be possible? He’s quite an acquaintance of yours already.”

“But now Cheon Woo-jin won’t be willing to help me.”

“I will help you, so don’t worry.”

“Hmm…”

“This is a win-win strategy, so there’s no loss in trying. Strike while the iron is hot, and let’s go immediately.”

It seemed like Mangnyang believed this strategy was the best. While I hesitated, Zhuge Sa interjected.

“Use the Divine Portrait I have here. You’ll likely have your wish fulfilled.”

“Zhuge Sa. Are you sure that’s alright? Aren’t you worried about it?”

Zhuge Sa had pooled all the assets he had in the Jangryeong Valley for the Divine Portrait. It would be normal to feel reluctant, so I cautiously asked, and he smiled lightly.

“Why would I feel bad? Even I think Hyun’s proposal makes sense. Sowing doubts by cultivating Jin So-cheong or drawing in Dokgo Seong or using the black token is all too risky. Moreover, trying something that has never been attempted before will be a great experience.”

“… Fine then.”

With a whoosh, I stored the Divine Portrait in my wooden armor and walked with Mangnyang to Master Mangnyang’s village. After inquiring about the Heavenly Secret, we headed towards the village, only to be abruptly blocked by Cheon Woo-jin, who manifested the Illusion Fog.

Cheon Woo-jin glared at me fiercely.

“What did you understand from my words? I distinctly said I would discard all grudges and favors!”

He seemed irritated just looking at me. Well, I had indeed interacted with him quite a bit in this life. Just then, Mangnyang, standing beside me, addressed Cheon Woo-jin.

“Do not worry, Abbot. We are merely here to borrow the altar today, so we won’t need your assistance.”

Cheon Woo-jin growled at Mangnyang.

“Older Brother, don’t say nonsense. There are countless sacred mountains and divine terrains, so why must you chose to perform the ritual here? Don’t bother the Master any further.”

“Hmm… though I have no objection, I suspect the Master will want to hear us speak.”

“What grounds do you base that on?”

Mangnyang pointed to the sky.

“Surely you, as a priest, sensed the recent, significant distortion in heavenly energy. Do you know what caused it?”

“Isn’t it because of a great being’s fall? I’m not sure what happened, but I know the heavens and the earth were turned upside down.”

“Haha. With such great events transpiring, you are indifferent to external affairs? Quite the priest you are.”

“Why would I bow my head to Heaven and Earth for events that are not my concern? If you have something to say, then say it quickly.”

Mangnyang calmly replied,

“The Sea God has fallen.”

“……!!”

“For the first time in history, it was Baek Woong, standing before you, who defeated the Old Ruler, the Sea God.”

“Gah…!”

Cheon Woo-jin lost his composure, staring at me, mouth agape. In his state of panic, he invoked some technique, and his face turned astonished. He broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead and exclaimed,

“No… this is impossible. No matter how much the Master of the Seven Luminaries I might be… how could a human possibly?”

“It is the truth. Did you not just question me to confirm this fact?”

“……”

“This is my duty. It is my obligation to report the events to you, Master of the Central Plains Taoism, and since I’m at it, I’ve come to perform the ceremony too, so step aside.”

Cheon Woo-jin reluctantly nodded.

“… Understood.”

We moved into the village. Soon enough, we arrived at the shrine of Yeodong-bin.

Suddenly, a twinge of sadness struck me as I touched the pillar of Yeodong-bin’s shrine.

‘Yeodong-bin is still fighting against the Sea God.’

He must be self-destructing while sealing the Sea God’s monstrous magical powers with his own. In truth, had it not been for Yeodong-bin’s sacrifice, I would have died right there. The joy of defeating the Sea God was great enough that I briefly forgot, but Yeodong-bin was truly the one who had taken down the Sea God.

That was when it hit me.

‘… Again…’

The Shadow of Death loomed over me. I slowly succumbed to gentle slumber, as though responding to the call of Master Mangnyang.

[ You’ve returned once more. ]

That was how the Master spoke. He walked along the narrow path and leaped up onto a low stone wall. The black cat strode regally atop the wall and looked down at me.

[ To have defeated the Sea God, it seems you’ve accumulated quite the amount of karma. ]

“…?”

Accumulated karma?

As I gazed suspiciously at Mangnyang, he languidly flicked his tail and continued speaking.

[ Those coincidences were necessary, and what you thought were necessities became coincidences. The Law of Cause and Effect is the greatest principle in the world. ]

“What do you mean I’ve accumulated karma?”

[ I’ll tell you when you gather more karma later. ]

“Are you toying with me!!”

Did this cat decide it was going to mess with people from the get-go? As I raised my voice in frustration, Mangnyang disregarded me and turned his head away, saying casually,

[ The Master of the Twelve Joules left me a message. He wanted to make a contract with you through me as the mediator. ]

“What?”

[ I see that you’ve caught his eye. An individual like him distrusts everyone but himself. ]

“You want me to make a contract with him? Why would I want to make a contract with that guy?”

I exclaimed in disbelief.

The Master of the Twelve Joules was among the most untrustworthy people I’d encountered. I wouldn’t respond kindly to a suspicious contract proposed through Mangnyang of all candidates.

Mangnyang raised a paw dismissively.

[ You two should discuss it amongst yourselves. ]

*Crack!*

Suddenly, the space opened, and a figure donned in a puppy mask appeared. Naturally, it was the Master of the Twelve Joules, and I was taken aback that he could enter this dream space, widening my eyes in disbelief. The Master of the Twelve Joules took a moment to survey his surroundings before fixing his gaze on me.

“Wow, it’s been a while, Baek Woong.”