Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 1 – Dark Heaven Village

I patiently meditated until Grand Master Jang inspected my martial arts, including the Seven Great Techniques. With the Soul Exchange Technique, I could perform two actions at once, and now, both my internal power and sorcery had reached an impressive level, allowing me to gain significant effects just from meditation.

I finished my meditation two “half a moments” later. At that moment, Grand Master Jang finally spoke.

“I don’t understand, Nata.”

“What do you mean?” I questioned back, and Grand Master Jang appeared flustered.

“Even though you already possess the Heaven’s Escape Sword, to return in this way… truly a hardship… if only you’d relied on Yeodong-bin back then…”

“…?”

“However… perhaps this is all fate.”

What did Jang Sam-bong mean by that? My mind was buzzing, forcing me to loosen my meditation stance. As I rose from my seat, Jang Sam-bong continued.

“Nata, before your training, there’s something I must mention… about the existence known as the Martial God.”

That single statement captured my full attention.

Martial God!

Jin So-cheong had encountered that being in her youth, and subtly, Yeodong-bin and the Master of the White Lotus Sect had also spoken of their own encounters with him. Jang Sam-bong conjured an illusion of himself that was not much different from the portraits commonly depicted in the world, embodying the spirit of an immortal that seemed to leap from the pages of a story.

“I too encountered the Martial God before ascending.”

“Really? What kind of being is he?”

“He was like a mirage…”

“A divine being?”

Jang Sam-bong hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“Perhaps.”

“That’s vague.”

“Nobody, not even in the Celestial Realm, knows exactly what he is… he appears without regard to time and space, and he harms no one. He simply conveys his will to the opponent and vanishes.”

“So that’s why you called him a mirage.”

I pondered before speaking again.

“Did this Martial God impart any insights to Jin So-cheong?”

“No. Not at all. None of us who encountered him received any insights or achievements. He does not meddle directly with the Law of Cause and Effect.”

“Huh? Then what…”

“He only posed questions.”

Jang Sam-bong’s illusion gazed at me intensely before asking.

“Nata, what do you think is the ultimate of martial arts?”

Ultimate of martial arts?

That was an unexpected question. I thought this might be a riddle, but I couldn’t decipher Jang Sam-bong’s intent. One thing was clear: it was a question filled with intense energy, and I felt I must provide a proper answer.

“Hmm… I suppose it means becoming the strongest?”

If one becomes the strongest, surely they would be the greatest warrior.

“Hehe.”

“Wait… was that wrong?”

As I cautiously inquired, Jang Sam-bong responded.

“Nata, allow me to ask again.”

“Yes.”

“Among the martial arts you have seen, which did you find the strongest and most fearsome?”

I contemplated for a moment before replying.

“It was the martial arts of the Master of the White Lotus Sect and Yeodong-bin.”

“That makes sense. What kind of power did their martial arts wield?”

“Well… they could obliterate mountains with a single strike and shatter the earth.”

“Can you imagine a martial art stronger than that?”

I thought deeper about that question.

“A martial art stronger than that?”

In that case, it wouldn’t even be considered martial arts. The clash between the Master of the White Lotus Sect and Yeodong-bin nearly obliterated Luoyang; anything stronger than that would hardly even be referred to as martial arts. But I could somewhat envision it, so I nodded.

“… I can, sort of.”

“A martial art a hundred times stronger than what you just imagined?”

The mere thought was absurdly powerful. At that level, I would only smile wryly.

“Hmm… would a mere clash between warriors destroy the Ancient Middle Kingdom?”

I retorted bluntly to Grand Master Jang’s inquiry, and he chuckled before responding.

“If human martial arts were to evolve and evolve until there was a technique capable of destroying the world with a single sword stroke, would you without a doubt consider that the ultimate of martial arts?”

“…”

“What if there were a martial art that could obliterate the entire universe?”

Hmm… I had never even considered such a thought.

Could it even be possible for martial arts to do something like that?

It was such an unprecedented possibility that I nodded without hesitation.

“Of course! If the universe were destroyed, no one would survive; wouldn’t that be the ultimate of martial arts?”

If the universe were obliterated, nothing could possibly survive. Even a god would likely perish, right? Regardless of the concept of death, destruction of the universe implied that.

To my response, Jang Sam-bong shook his head.

“No.”

What an unexpected negation.

“What?”

“Even if that martial art leads to a hundred victories, it does not prove it is the best. For instance, if another martial art with a destructive power a thousand times more potent were to emerge, wouldn’t that become the ultimate martial arts?”

In that case, it was no different than children arguing who was stronger.

“Well… um…”

I found myself bewildered by Jang Sam-bong’s words.

“Isn’t this just wordplay?”

But I sensed Jang Sam-bong didn’t intend to engage in wordplay. As I desperately tried to understand what he was saying, I finally realized.

“You’re saying that being the strongest doesn’t necessarily mean being the ultimate.”

Jang Sam-bong smiled.

“Exactly. In the end, such comparisons are mere numbers and hypothetical scenarios. The ultimate martial arts is a question that can never be answered because there is always something above it.”

“I think even a strong master of the Absolute Realm or Overlay Technique would look plenty ultimate…”

It was a reasonable claim, yet I muttered it in a slightly petulant voice. To be honest, merely twisting the rules within the Absolute Realm to showcase miraculous power was astounding in itself. Yet, to discuss concepts far beyond even that made my head want to explode.

“What the Martial God proposed was precisely the feeling you just sensed.”

“Excuse me?”

“He made us experience the existence of an ultimate reality that could not exist. And he let us know that the paths to reach that ultimate are infinite. Thus, those who encounter him develop an insatiable desire to pursue martial arts.”

“Um… I don’t really get it…”

So what exactly did the Martial God do?

As I scratched my head at Jang Sam-bong’s vague statements, he gave a bittersweet smile.

“Let me take my time to explain it so you can understand.”

“I’ll listen closely.”

“You may not realize it, but for a human martial artist to reach the Absolute Realm means they’ve qualified for ascension into the Celestial Realm. That’s been a standard since ancient times that hasn’t changed. While the differences depend on the progress of the Absolute Realm, warriors in the Celestial Realm highly value those who achieve that state. They actively guide them toward ascension.”

“Guide them?”

“If a human with the power of the Absolute Realm remains on Earth, it could cause great chaos in the world. Before the Absolute Realm, a nation’s military strength is meaningless, and they might possess the capability to annihilate a great army. Hence, the balance of the world is easily shattered.”

“…”

That’s true.

I didn’t think Lee Cheong-un, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, or Miyamoto Musashi would be easily defeated by a mere great army. If they were involved, they could completely wipe out the army or gleefully sever the commander’s head.

And no matter what kind of protection an emperor of the empire had, if a strong master of the Absolute Realm did not intervene, an assassination would be inevitable.

Jang Sam-bong continued speaking.

“The emotional state of those who reach the Absolute Realm before ascending typically experiences extreme fatigue.”

“Fatigue…?”

“Having reached a level they believe they cannot further rise as a martial artist, even if they ascend to the Celestial Realm, they think they could never reach a higher state. It might be arrogant to say, but that’s the nature of the Absolute Realm.”

“Uhm…”

“Furthermore, facing the enormous power of the Great Immortals, including the Old Ruler and truths of the world can induce despair. They lose the will to cultivate any further once they ascend to the Celestial Realm. They often experience both arrogance and despair, leading to their laziness.”

That might be true. While the masters of the Absolute Realm are strong, they are still no match against the powers of the Apostles or the Old Ruler. I could understand the despair of realizing that no matter how much one trains in martial arts, they could never win against a born divine being.

After all, wasn’t I relying on the Seven Luminaries because I couldn’t possibly handle them with mere martial arts?

Jang Sam-bong smiled faintly.

“However… the Martial God showcased the ultimate of martial arts for just a moment. That alone can create a passion for an endless pursuit toward that ultimate.”

“Uhm…”

Feeling a little confused, I voiced my thoughts.

“You probably won’t understand it now.”

“Honestly, that’s correct.”

“But as you grow stronger… should the day come when you encounter the Martial God, you’ll understand the meaning of my words then.”

Jang Sam-bong placed his hand on my shoulder. It felt like a gesture of encouragement.

I asked him, “So does that mean all who have reached the Absolute Realm have met the Martial God?”

“Not at all. Rather, it’s an extremely small number.”

“Why?”

“I am not sure, but it seems the Martial God does not simply meet with those at high levels of martial arts. There must be some criterion unique to his being.”

“…”

Now that I think of it, Jin So-cheong had also stated that she encountered the Martial God in her childhood. Given that her younger self could not have been a master of the Absolute Realm, it was clear that the Martial God had another standard for selecting whom to meet.

“Well, whatever.”

It was pointless to think further when I hadn’t even reached the Absolute Realm yet.

Just gaining information related to the Martial God was enough for now. I spoke to Jang Sam-bong.

“Then now, please give me guidance on the Seven Great Techniques.”

“…”

“Grand Master Jang?”

At my request, Jang Sam-bong hesitated before responding.

“Nata, your capacity is reaching its limits.”

“What do you mean…?”

“The vessel that was forcibly stifled by Yeodong-bin’s celestial sword will soon be full.”

“Ah…”

“Not only the Seven Great Techniques but every potential derived from them are all peerless divine techniques perfected by geniuses. It is impossible for you to master them all.”

I began to grasp what Jang Sam-bong was saying.

In the past, to control the chaos of the sword family, I had received training in Yeodong-bin’s Heavenly Escape Sword Technique up to the fifth level. Thanks to that experience, I had smoothly progressed my training after reaching the peak expert level, allowing my skills to rise. But according to Jang Sam-bong, it seemed that the effects I gained from that knowledge had its limits.

“Does that mean more chaos in my martial arts is coming?”

Feeling uneasy, Jang Sam-bong addressed me.

“The fundamental solution is to strengthen the Heaven’s Escape Sword embedded in your soul. However, that is something only Yeodong-bin can do in this world. All I can do is to slightly widen your vessel to postpone the limits…”

“But Yeodong-bin is…”

I was about to return a rebuttal when I fell silent.

There was no way to save Yeodong-bin, who had become a captive of the Sea God and was headed for self-destruction in this life. I hadn’t expected to be trapped like this, and as I let out a sigh of frustration, Jang Sam-bong spoke.

“Nata, for now, I’ll bestow my blessing, allowing you to suspend your training for about ten years.”

Whoosh

As Jang Sam-bong’s hand glowed on my shoulder, my mind suddenly felt clear and refreshing. He must have granted me a blessing. He looked at me with a sorrowful gaze and continued.

“I will teach you the Seven Great Techniques as fully as I can, but I hope you will self-regulate your training afterward. Otherwise, cracks will form in your vessel, allowing madness to creep into your spirit. If you wish to avoid true murky confusion, remember my words.”

“…”

I had managed to create a decent environment for training, yet now I had to search for solutions again!

Though I felt frustrated, I had faced far worse situations before, so I managed to calm my mind. After all, wasn’t it a chance to solidify my skills for a decade?

“Alright. I will train hard to reach the Absolute Realm within ten years and overcome my limits!”

I would make it happen!

Having already slain the Sea God, what could I not achieve?

“Uh… um… that…”

As I clenched my fist and boldly proclaimed, Jang Sam-bong stared at me with a blank expression for a moment. After pondering for a long while, managing his expression, he finally said,

“That… that’s the case, Nata!”

His response felt a bit off. Yet, I decided not to think too much about it for now. Surely, at this moment, motivation and hard work were what mattered the most.

And so, I spent about a day relearning the basics of the Seven Great Techniques from Jang Sam-bong. He seemed intent on solidifying my foundation rather than immediately teaching me the derived techniques of the Seven Great Techniques. At first, I thought there was no point in learning the basics again, but as I progressed, I realized that was not the case.

“The essence of the Seven Great Techniques is the Six Harmonies. The result of the formation of the Six Harmonies is the Peerless Technique.”

Jang Sam-bong raised his hand slowly, creating an aura of Tai Chi. The harmony of yin and yang gracefully intertwined in the aura, settling into his illusion, as he began taking on the form of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is the basic martial art of the Wudang Sect, and it had spread widely among the public due to its relatively low power, often regarded merely as a secondary martial art.

*Clap!*

As Jang Sam-bong assumed the posture of Tai Chi, he suddenly transformed into the basics of the Seven Great Techniques, beginning to demonstrate his martial arts. I cautiously observed the flow of that foundational technique. Throughout the course of twenty-four techniques being showcased, the flow was stable and seamless, ultimately returning to the Tai Chi stance, making me exclaim in awe.

“Ah!”

Truly, it was soft.

And powerful.

I would even deem it beautiful!

“Is this what is truly meant in the Wudang Sect as the essence of soft yet strong?”

While I had seen Wudang masters utilize the martial arts of softness, I felt confident I could crush it with the martial arts of the Thunder God. But if I charged into Jang Sam-bong’s Tai Chi stance now, I felt I would be swiftly shattered by the very softness itself.

“The reason the Six Harmonies are special is that they signify the enhancement of change.”

“Enhancement of change?”

“Have you ever heard of Qi?”

“I’m familiar with it to some extent, having studied sorcery and Taoism.”

I learned that much during my three years studying under Mangnyang. In order to grasp the foundations of Taoism, including Qimen Dunjia, one had to understand the basic principles of the Ten Heavenly Stems and the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. Thanks to the study from that time, I was later able to interpret complex martial arts manuals.

“When one embodies the Qi, they possess a unique temperament. Do you understand?”

“Are you referring to unwavering behaviors?”

“That’s correct. It does not change. Hence, it tends to be treated more easily than the Five Elements, and Taoists don’t pay much mind to it. Contrary to the intuitive and ever-changing yin, yang, and Five Elements, and the grand principles of Taoism, the Six Harmonies remain fixed and do not move.”

“Mhm, I understand.”

“Instead, the Six Harmonies contain the Heavenly Stems within the balance of the Qi.”

What exactly was he trying to convey?

“By changing ever so subtly, there exists nothing more meaningless than that. The change of yin and yang and the Five Elements have limits, but the unchanging state is infinite… it’s a paradox.”

*Whoosh*

Though Jang Sam-bong had merely brushed his fist through the air lightly, the ground trembled as if it was being turned upside-down. As it registered that this was merely the first technique of Tai Chi, I was left in stunned awe at Jang Sam-bong’s martial wisdom.

“The frequent mention of the Six Harmonies in martial arts and sorcery corresponds to their special link to the laws of the world.”

I could not hold back any longer and questioned him aloud.

“What does it mean to say it corresponds?”

I had studied sorcerous arts, but I found it challenging to grasp the underlying mysteries embedded within Jang Sam-bong’s explanations. Unless one had immersed themselves in Taoism for decades, comprehending his explanations would prove difficult.

“Because it encompasses ‘all things.’ You can connect it in any way, and it becomes the Six Harmonies.”

“That sounds pretty complicated. Can you simplify it a bit?”

“To simplify further, unlike the changes in the Five Elements, the Six Harmonies embody all possibilities expressed through fate. The most comprehensive area that can be represented by fate is the Six Harmonies, I suppose.”

“Uh… I think I might understand…?”

There seemed to have been such explanations, yet I had never encountered a text that delved deeply into that area.

“You seem to struggle to grasp well.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“At the very least, try organizing the explanations you’ve heard so far in your mind.”

As I pondered earnestly, Jang Sam-bong’s exposition became even more precise.

“Do you know why sorcerers rarely study the Six Harmonies even when they delve into the yin, yang, and the Eight Trigrams?”

“Um… I can’t say I do.”

“Like I mentioned earlier, the Six Harmonies are unchanging and yet ever-changing. Studying the Six Harmonies implies gaining an all-knowing perspective of everything in this world, which is certainly beyond the capacity of any human.”

“Oh! I see!”

“A single blade of grass, a gust of wind, drifting clouds; all these workings can be denominated as the Six Harmonies.”

So unchanging yet ever-changing meant that!

“Everything” signifies the entirety from a grand perspective, while from a smaller perspective, it depicts the endlessly infinite changes present in this world.

“Wow, what an expansive perspective this is…”

As I gaped in astonishment at the vastness of the Six Harmonies, Jang Sam-bong offered a warm smile.

“Because of this, the Six Harmonies not only deal with the external realms of the world but also conceptual realms.”

“What do you mean by conceptual realms?”

“Broadly speaking, it encompasses fate, divinity, enlightenment, and cause-and-effect. Elements that are not well articulated in Qimen Dunjia might qualify as aspects of randomness. This is a perspective not of the left-hand path but the right-hand path, so a sorcerer’s interpretation might differ somewhat.”

“…”

“To summarize: ‘the state of all things in all dimensions of time and space.’ That is the essence of the Six Harmonies.”

*Swish*

“That is why after realizing the Tai Chi, I created a martial art utilizing the power of the Six Harmonies.”

Suddenly, Jang Sam-bong’s form dissipated. Then, he began to demonstrate the sixth of the Seven Great Techniques in quick succession, his movements graceful like dance, and I felt that vibe of power and intent surge forth, akin to the moment heaven and earth were cleaved into yin and yang.

*Whoooooosh!*

There came a moment when I could no longer perceive his techniques. Like the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, Jang Sam-bong’s every action radiated with countless possibilities like falling raindrops or snowflakes. Amidst the subtle waves, the form of the Six Harmonies flew into my eyes like an illusion.

As Jang Sam-bong’s dance gradually diminished from the ethereal realm, I realized he had showcased the perfect linkage of the six great techniques. What he demonstrated was a seamless flow that no practitioner of the Seven Great Techniques I had learned so far could achieve.

“Internal Three Harmonies, External Three Harmonies, and Heart and Mind Harmonies. You must understand this before you can finally utilize the Peerless Technique. If you combine martial arts according to this principle, it will be a breeze.”

I felt as though I had stumbled upon a significant clue. The principle of martial arts being the Six Harmonies was a secret no one had ever known until now.

“What exactly is the Peerless Technique?”

“… It’s my foolish challenge.”

Jang Sam-bong chuckled bitterly as he said, “It’s the answer I devised to the Martial God’s question…”

“…?”

I reacted with confusion.

“Um… aren’t you going to show me the Peerless Technique?”

“I already have.”

“What?”

“Nata… the Peerless Technique is not a martial art with physical prowess. It happens to be the weakest martial technique in the world. The Peerless Technique is merely the result of realizing the essence of the Six Harmonies in response to the Martial God’s inquiry.”

Upon hearing Jang Sam-bong’s words, I quickly realized it would be best to focus solely on practicing the six great techniques for now.

“With the Peerless Technique, I could not win against any opponent.”