Reincarnation Sword God

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00502 – Dark Heaven Village

He was definitely the Young Master. From his name, Dokgo Seol, to his oddly polite manner of speaking, it all painted a picture. Although his actual age was quite advanced, perhaps due to mastering the powerful Su Shin Sect martial arts, he looked barely aged by my recollection.

However, what stood before me was a bizarre and grotesque figure—an Otherworldly Race that I was seeing for the first time. Could that really be the Young Master?

As I struggled to accept this bizarre reality in my mind, the one calling himself ‘the Sect Leader,’ Dokgo Seol, spoke up.

“Ah… just a moment… just a moment…”

The voice that sounded like relentless squeaking suddenly coughed, and astonishingly, his neck transformed into that of an adult human.

‘Can he transform his body?’

Moments later, the voice I knew as the Young Master resonated in my ears.

“You’ve come very well. I also planned to visit you, Baek Woong, soon.”

“… The Master of the White Lotus Sect is dead. Are you really the Sect Leader?”

“He was my father…”

Swoosh!

“……!!”

As Dokgo Seol wiggled his wrinkled fingers, the corpse of the Master of the White Lotus Sect suddenly disintegrated into dust. It transformed into mere particles and collapsed, vanishing altogether. At first glance, it seemed like a transformation spell had taken place, but that wasn’t it.

Perhaps it was the result of the power of the Apostle that allowed me to sense it clearly. So much ‘time’ had passed in an instant.

‘What is going on?’

Dokgo Seol’s speech continued.

“He’ll be at peace now. The doomed fate that existed within him has been transferred to me, so it’s fortunate in some way. And since I’ve succeeded him as the head of the White Lotus Sect, let’s have a conversation, Baek Woong.”

He transferred the doomed fate…?

A foreboding sensation washed over me from those words.

‘Is it really fortunate that he just wants to talk instead of attacking me…?’

I needed to extract as much information as possible from this situation. I understood that I might die here, but I had to grasp at least why this ‘self-proclaimed Sect Leader’ was doing what he was doing. I carefully chose my words in my mind and finally spoke.

“What happened to the Elder Council and the experts of Su Shin that were here?”

“They have been reverted with the flow of time.”

Does that mean he killed them?

‘No, that’s not the important part.’

I guessed he must have eliminated anyone who posed a threat. Digging deeper would only lead to endless inquiries, plus the risk of annoying him with my questions, so I quickly transitioned to a more pressing query.

“I can sense that you’re an incredibly powerful being. How did you acquire such strength?”

“……”

His wrinkled face turned towards me. In that moment, I could see an unimaginable madness imprinted within those gleaming eyes. My mind swayed, feeling as if my body would crumble apart at any second.

So evil and wicked.

The unending insanity that has persisted since the era of Mysteries.

A sense of despair flooded as malevolence poured down from the Constellation.

I felt a distortion of reality, and all of it rendered me completely immobile.

‘Wh-What the hell is this!!’

Objectively, it was just a funny, grotesque appearance, but merely locking eyes with him paralyzed my limbs. The mere presence that radiated from him completely sealed off my capacity for thought.

“Urk.”

But as I fought to regain my composure and glare at him, Dokgo Seol remarked, surprisingly amused.

“Indeed… you have remarkable mental defenses. Even as an Apostle of the Three Sovereigns, is it possible for a mere mortal to resist the gaze of the Primordial?”

“Were you just attacking me?”

“No. I merely gazed at you. For mortals, that alone can shatter their sanity.”

Dokgo Seol continued casually.

“I am now the Master of the White Lotus Sect… and the only child of the Master of the White Lotus Sect, Dokgo Seol—an ‘incredible being’ summoned across the vast flow of time. All of that is intertwined to form my self. Soon, the self of Dokgo Seol will fade, but before that, I wish to fulfill his wish as an incarnation.”

“……”

While he spoke at length, my accumulated dark knowledge allowed me to understand his words.

‘… I see…’

He’s the incarnation of the [Old Ruler]!

There was no telling how this came to be, but it was undoubtedly the [Old Ruler], an entity beyond my comprehension, who manifested through Dokgo Seol’s body. Although not as strong as the original, an incarnation of the Old Ruler itself is a disaster and a calamity.

I recalled past memories.

[This happened several decades ago… I had a conflict with a godlike being that led to a battle. To be precise, I fought it and destroyed its physical form. It was indeed powerful, but it wasn’t my match.]

[However, that being suddenly vanished, its soul dissipating, and afterward, a terrible cursed disease afflicted my son, the Young Master.]

[Non-Birth Mother. That’s the name of the great deity my sect worships. The Creator, the Non-Birth Mother, promised to send Maitreya into this world to gather her scattered children and lead them to the True Void, manifesting the Peaceful Millennium Kingdom in the human world. Do you know of the teachings of the White Lotus Sect?]

[In fact, to cure the disease, I sought the advice of the most powerful Sorcerer I knew. That Sorcerer claimed he couldn’t help, but termed it a heavenly fortune instead.]

[The Old Ruler’s magic could curse the entire White Lotus Sect to annihilation, but due to the blessing of the Non-Birth Mother, that was prevented. So, I reflected on how to offer the greatest tribute to the Non-Birth Mother, and I thought that the White Lotus Sect’s legendary Dharma Protector, the Dragon Flower Tree, would be fitting.]

The Master of the White Lotus Sect had told me that a foreigner with blue eyes from the Western Regions had come seeking assistance in obtaining the Nameless Ritual Book, but the Master refused the offer. That was when the Old Ruler’s incarnation was summoned, and the Master defeated it with his own power, shortly after which the Young Master, Dokgo Seol, fell ill.

Then, the Master sent Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s party to the Southern Barbarians to find the Dragon Flower Tree as an offering to the Non-Birth Mother. I also remembered that there was hope that the Dragon Flower Tree itself could help cure the disease.

“……”

Then could it be…

I glared at him to confirm my hypothesis.

“The Master of the White Lotus Sect didn’t defeat the Old Ruler’s incarnation summoned by the sorcerer from the Western Regions. He merely postponed it, didn’t he?”

“You know a lot.”

“He told me.”

“Is that so?”

Responding with a refined tone, Dokgo Seol continued.

“Yes indeed. My incarnation’s body was indeed destroyed in the fight with the Master of the White Lotus Sect, but my soul was imperishable. And because that Sorcerer asked to lend a hand with his soul until the end, I possessed his bloodline.”

“Possessed…?”

“The Sorcerer’s wish was a curse to annihilate the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s lineage. Hence, the Master has restrained me using the power of my great father.”

“What?! Are you saying…?”

I was taken aback, shouting.

“The Master of the White Lotus Sect sealed you with the Primordial Spirit?!”

“Seal? That sounds unpleasant. Even with the strength borrowed from ‘Father’s’ throne, it’s still just human power. I could have broken free at any moment. But there was no reason to expend so much effort for the request of a mere Sorcerer.”

Dokgo Seol grumbled softly.

“I normally have no interest in the affairs of this world. However, recently, with the Sea Guardian’s fall, the Law of Cause and Effect has swayed significantly. I took the opportunity of the Master of the White Lotus Sect weakening to step forward.”

His grotesque face seemed to smile eerily.

“If all goes well, I might be the first to receive a revelation in the ‘Time of Ending,’ surpassing Cthulhu.”

“A revelation?”

“I won’t say more. Despite being an Apostle, you are still just a lowly human being.”

“…I see.”

I glared at him.

“You are not Dokgo Seol. You are merely pretending to be him.”

“Didn’t I say that from the beginning? Out of mercy, I merely fulfill human desires.”

That’s right.

What stood before me was neither Dokgo Seol nor the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

It was simply the incarnation of the [Old Ruler] possessing a human, copying the personality of Dokgo Seol. This meant that what was in front of me was not a human at all, but rather an Otherworldly being—a vessel executing the will of the [Old Ruler].

‘Taking advantage of the Sea God’s fall, the contract with the Primordial Spirit weakened… That thing resurrected and massacred the leadership of the White Lotus Sect.’

Having realized the situation, I sent a transmission to Musashi.

[Musashi. Can we escape?]

[It’s too late. Hasn’t he already set something in motion that you didn’t notice?]

[What?]

[I will fight as much as I can, but we will all die here.]

Musashi’s calm response felt surreal.

Suddenly, the ‘Dokgo Seol’ with the appearance of a wrinkled fetus slowly rose and spoke.

“I cannot comprehend the choice of the Three Sovereigns to select mere insect-like humans as Apostles. When an incarnation dies, it means a weakening of their own power… But they love humans so much that they delayed the time of ending by creating the Seven Luminaries.”

Boom!

In the next moment, I swiftly moved toward Musashi, intending to flee with him using the ground-impact technique. But the technique didn’t activate at all, leaving me with no choice but to attempt the Apostle’s power instead.

“Ugh!”

The Apostle’s power was also ineffective!

Instead, the entire space felt as if it was massively rippling and heaving. Did he realize I used the Apostle’s power? He laughed.

“Ha ha ha, this is amusing, isn’t it? The power bestowed upon you must be from Jeon Wook.”

“What about it is amusing?!”

“The domain he manipulates is the same as mine… It will be a competition to see which one’s vessel is superior. Hahaha.”

Then, Miyamoto Musashi stepped forward.

Boom!

When he unleashed the ground-impact technique with great force, the attention of our opponent shifted towards him. Musashi assumed his finest stance from the Two Heavens One Style, narrowing his eyes, and softly said.

“Venda!”

However, contrary to the words, Musashi remained utterly still.

Under ordinary circumstances, one wouldn’t bother with a warning before attacking. What could Musashi’s current behavior mean? As I looked at him in confusion, the Old Ruler’s [Incarnation] spoke.

“A mortal daring to challenge the impossible, huh? Do you really think you can succeed?”

“Venda!”

“Then I wish you well.”

Swoosh!

In that instant, when he took a step towards Musashi, I witnessed the distortion of time unfold before my eyes. Dust and bloodstains that floated around seemed frozen in place, and only one thing remained mobile: a flowing radiant light that had once been in human form. That stream of light took on Musashi’s shape, and with a slash, he carved a cross into the very fabric of space.

This phenomenon was unlike the Heart Command Technique. While the Heart Command merely heightened one’s senses to comprehend the fleeting moment, Musashi transcended the boundaries felt through the technique, reaching the flow of light.

Swoosh!

Blood erupted in a great splash. The incarnation, previously appearing as a fetus, flailed as its arms got severed off. It was undoubtedly a critical wound dealt by Musashi’s single move.

‘Did… I win!!’

But contrary to my expectations, the incarnation squirmed and responded with apparent delight.

“Hahaha!! Did a mere human just read the fabric of time and strike me? I wonder if this power is permissible for a mortal. How interesting!”

Boom!

In a flash, Musashi emitted light so faint it was nearly invisible, and the incarnation’s body shattered into hundreds of fragments. It clearly was a decisive victory for Musashi, and I wore a pleased expression as I approached him.

“You did it! You defeated the incarnation of a god…”

“… Run.”

Musashi cut me off with a heavy tone. When I looked at him, he hid despair but spoke.

“That isn’t something a human can defeat…”

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

An empty void.

In that space, dust and clay fluttered rapidly. The clay soon absorbed the remnants of the corpses, and within moments, it restored the incarnation to its original grotesque feto-like appearance.

“……!!”

A being that could not die?!

In an instant, the Old Ruler’s incarnation began to speak.

“Unlike when I fought the Master of the White Lotus Sect, this time I’ll genuinely involve myself; you are truly unfortunate.”

The moment its finger pointed at Miyamoto Musashi.

Swoosh.

That was it.

Renowned as the greatest Peerless Master, Miyamoto Musashi simply turned to dust and disappeared. He didn’t even leave a final word or react. Countless years passed as the space where Musashi stood was eroded away.

“Ugh, aah…”

I felt like I would lose my mind from the utter futility of that outcome. I did not expect Miyamoto Musashi to be defeated in one blow.

‘I… I must escape…’

But could I really escape?

Against such a divine being?

As I was in disarray, a moment of clarity hit me through the device, and I sensed the spirit of Jang Sam-bong descending upon me. Occupying my body, Jang Sam-bong turned to face the front with a serious aura and said.

“Great one… Do you consider good and evil mere play? You may extend kindness with that strength to those who are unfortunate…”

The Old Ruler’s incarnation smirked malevolently.

“To those caught in the middle between gods and humans, do you speak of mercy and morality when slaying ants?”

“… I knew it, yet you truly are an evil existence…”

In a low voice, Jang Sam-bong raised his hand toward the enemy.

That posture was the initiation stance of Tai Chi from the Wudang Sect.

And he spoke to me.

[Warrior! I shall endure with the Peerless Technique as best I can. Yet I cannot avert defeat, so you must use your skills to escape this place!]

[Jang Sam-bong, that’s impossible…]

Jang Sam-bong offered a bitter smile.

[There isn’t much time left for conversation. Then, farewell.]

As my vision darkened, the world began to fade gradually.

…

Time passed.

I slowly opened my eyes, and soon realized that the day had slipped away, replaced by the moon hanging high in the sky. The place that was once the Hall of the Sect Leader had vanished without a trace, the buildings reduced to sand, along with the nearby mountains and rivers, all erased.

I could sense it clearly.

Both fighters had extinguished the White Lotus Sect.

I stood barely alive, emaciated like a skeleton. My internal power had been completely exhausted, and since I had likely opened the Eight Gates exhaustively, my blood energy was wrecked as well. I surmised that I had returned to my body because I could no longer maintain Jang Sam-bong’s spirit summoning.

I was overwhelmed by sharp pain and severe headaches, struggling to remain upright. My forearms felt shrunken and dried, as if I had endured some crushing blow.

Before me stood the incarnation of the [Old Ruler], self-proclaimed Dokgo Seol. The being gazed at me without expression and spoke.

[Let me pay my respects to the Immortal. That one managed to preserve himself against me, the eternal fetus.]

“……”

[Indeed, a remarkable technique.]

I had no strength to respond.

However, I distinctly sensed a change. Until just now, he had spoken in a human polite form, but now, even while using a haughty tone, he spoke respectfully. It seemed the entity regarded the basic fact of Jang Sam-bong’s endurance quite highly.

[I shall bestow upon you an equal end…]

Swoosh!

The moment his finger pointed at me, my body began to scatter like sand. It felt horrifically as my ears and nose quickly disintegrated down to sheer nerves.

Wherever his gaze and finger pointed, an insufferable length of time seemed to stretch into eternity. That time could have been a thousand years or ten thousand. In that span, neither living beings nor mortals could possibly survive his touch.

An absurd ability; this must indeed be the power of the [Old Ruler].

Realizing I could no longer live, I closed my eyes.

Ahh.

This would be my twenty-second death…

[Active of powers.]

Kiki!

A winding noise echoed around me.

“……”

When I regained consciousness, I found myself standing with Miyamoto Musashi in the empty grounds of the White Lotus Sect.

“What’s happening?”

It felt like I had just experienced a nightmare.

But I knew that what I had just felt was no mere nightmare.

If I walked forward like this, I would surely confront a bitter reality.

“… Uuuuuugh!!”

Trembling like a willowy sapling, I collapsed to the ground, shaking my hands and feet. The terror I felt from that incomprehensible divine being still lingered in my body. I had sensed the true power of the [Old Ruler], one that could not be articulated just through presence.

“Hah, hah, hah.”

Gasping for breath, I turned to Miyamoto Musashi and said, “W-We must return. If not, we will die.”

“Hmm, I see. I was thinking of warning you.”

That meant this moment was yet to be when Musashi would speak the ill news? Thus, it must have been right after we teleported to the Hall of the White Lotus Sect.

I bit down hard.

‘Now I somewhat remember…’

The Apostle’s power I had trained under the Emissary for five years at the Sky Gate.

The method to use that power surfaced in my mind.

Up until now, it had been sealed due to being too potent, but meeting a being of such overwhelming strength had unlocked that memory seal.

That’s right.

Using that power just moments ago, I had reversed time to just before encountering the incarnation of the [Old Ruler], barely escaping with my life. After all, Jeon Wook’s power manipulated time as well.