Reincarnation Sword God

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00505 Dark Heaven Village ————————————————————————

Pa-at
I used Light Body Technique to reach Han Clan. I could have used my power to get there, but my unease held me back. This feeling stemmed from the five years of memories training under Yeol.
‘I can’t recklessly use the Apostle’s power…’
Under Yeol’s guidance, I had trained at Ogeocheonmun, mastering the energies of the Sun and Moon (日月) while gaining insight into the flow of time. Yeol once told me while sitting in front of Ogeocheonmun, collecting my energy,
[Ogeocheonmun is the secret place of the sovereign, a gate to the mortal realm, so no one can come here recklessly. However, the energy of the Sun and Moon here is far stronger than any other place, enabling you to quickly handle the power of time.]
[If I can handle the power of time, can I stop it?]
[Not at all. Time doesn’t separate the concepts of mortals into past, present, and future. All of it is a chaotic blend, and the notion of “stopping” is flawed. You cannot stop it, nor can you turn it back.]
[…Well, I don’t quite understand, but I’ve actually seen someone who had the ability to stop time.]
When I mentioned the silver-haired Divine Portrait, Yeol stated,
[That wasn’t time stopping. It merely appeared that way. It’s a special ability of that person.]
[So, they just moved really quickly?]
[Apostle, you know nothing of the essence of time. If you don’t know anything, it’s wise to keep your mouth shut to avoid calamity.]
[……]
Somehow, I felt thoroughly schooled. Yeol continued,
[Once you master the power of time here, you should be able to use it freely in the mortal world. However, all uses must be tempered with self-restraint and must only be applied when necessary.]
[But isn’t the power of reincarnation limited to three times?]
[The same goes for other powers. This is because the debt of all powers you use falls upon Jeon Wook.]
As Yeol spoke, they seemed to loom over me with an unremarkable dark face, glaring menacingly.
[Remember this well. If you exceed the limit in using your power, Jeon Wook will no longer care for you. No matter how much of an Apostle you are, compared to the Three Sovereigns, you are a mere triviality! Exhibit self-restraint, continuously, and use your abilities with caution.]
[Understood.]
That memory was vivid. In essence, the Apostle’s powers I utilized in the mortal realm turned into debt, causing Jeon Wook to bear the weight of cause and effect. Since these powers were incredibly strong and not permitted in the human world, they conflicted with the law of cause and effect. However, Jeon Wook’s divine status would handle that burden. If I recklessly used my powers, Jeon Wook might grow to resent me and cast me aside.
Thus, after regaining my memories, I realized I needed to reserve my powers as much as possible. Of course, teleportation or health recovery wouldn’t impose much burden, but wasting power needlessly would leave me unprepared when I truly needed it. Therefore, muscle soreness and physical fatigue could be left to recover naturally, while simple movements would mostly be handled with Light Body Technique.
Upon my arrival at Han Clan, the atmosphere felt unsettled. It wasn’t in ruins, but the number of residents had significantly decreased, and the Fire Spirit martial artists were hardly visible. Above all, I noticed the usual bustling esteemed guests were absent.
I slipped away from the prying eyes of Han Clan members and headed towards the utmost inner sanctum. I arrived at the small garden where Han Baek-ryeong used to be, but instead, Han Jin-seong was standing there. As I made my presence known, Han Jin-seong looked in my direction.
“You…”
“Han Jin-seong. What has happened to Han Baek-ryeong?”
His face twisted in distress as he responded,
“Thanks to you, we’ve avoided the Purge by the White Lotus Sect, but she is currently in the hands of Yong Bi-cheon.”
“……!!”
Yong Bi-cheon?!
I realized that things had taken a turn for the worse and urged Han Jin-seong,
“Please, elaborate.”
“The Sect Leader initially intended to escort you to the main branch, but Yong Bi-cheon strongly insisted on taking charge. Therefore, she was entrusted to him, and I only know that she was secretly imprisoned by the Wind Spirit Sect.”
“……”
“Moreover, as of now, there has been no directive from the main branch, rendering us powerless…”
The color drained from Han Jin-seong’s face as he explained, laden with anger and helplessness. For someone who usually keeps his emotions in check, it was clear the situation had profoundly affected him. The fact that the Fire Spirit martial artists were imprisoned like slaves by another faction would certainly be a grave humiliation.
I looked him straight in the eye and said,
“I will rescue Han Baek-ryeong. I’ll negotiate directly with the Wind Spirit Sect.”
“Are you sincere?”
His expression was one of surprise.
“That’s very kind of you, but… we’ve already lost all our wealth and power to the Sect Leader, and the main martial artists of the Fire Spirit Sect are all imprisoned. Even if you take on such a dangerous task, we have nothing to repay you with…”
“Don’t worry about that. I am on the same ship as Han Baek-ryeong, so I’ll stick by her side until the end.”
At that moment, Han Jin-seong knelt deeply, genuinely moved.
“Thank you! If you rescue the Sect Leader, I, Han Jin-seong, will dedicate everything to you.”
“Hmm, then I have a question…”
“Ask anything.”
“To rescue her, I need a treasure of significant symbolic value. Can you provide me with something like that?”
“Follow me.”
Han Jin-seong led me to a secret chamber and swiftly handed me the Divine Sword Yongyeon. He was acting precisely as I hoped.
‘With the Divine Sword Yongyeon, it’ll be perfect for the Offering Ceremony.’
Being among the finest swords in the world, it certainly held substantial value as an offering. I tucked the Divine Sword Yongyeon into my wooden armor and said,
“Then I will go rescue Han Baek-ryeong…”
“Oh, wait a moment.”
“Huh?”
“I happen to know of one more treasure.”
His eyes sparkled.
“Break through the wall behind the fifteenth statue in the empty cave of Longmen Grottoes. There’s a secret stash hidden within.”

“Huh? Longmen Grottoes?”
“It’s a secret place I stumbled upon. I hope it helps…”
It seemed he had secretly concealed a treasure trove.
“Thank you.”
I nodded and moved towards Longmen Grottoes.
Pa-at
As I counted the statues carved here and there in the empty cave of Longmen, I finally reached the fifteenth statue. It depicted Guanyin, forming the gesture of yawning, looking unimpressive and small. I examined the surrounding wall, but found nothing unusual.
‘Hmm, where could it be?’
Crash!
I concentrated my strength into my fist and struck the wall behind the statue. The thin wall, cleverly concealed, collapsed effortlessly, revealing a secret passage. This passage seemed to have been carved within the mountain, and upon exploring further inside, I discovered three chambers.
“……!!”
Platinum?!
It gleamed with a silvery luster, and upon closer inspection, one chamber was entirely filled with a bounty of gold. The dazzling gold relevant to this peculiar metal known as platinum was there. Amazingly, the circular chamber was practically packed with bars of platinum.
“W-who left all this?”
It was an astounding quantity—enough to create a large statue! With this platinum, I would never have to worry about money again!
I then moved on to the next chamber, where a halberd lay in solitary splendor.
‘A halberd?’
It was an enormous halberd with a blue dragon intricately engraved on the handle. It looked significantly larger than a person and seemed impossibly heavy—even a sturdy man would fail to lift it with one hand. No, even with average strength, it was beyond lifting! This halberd was at least twenty times heavier than a standard one! It was my first time seeing such a colossal halberd, and I felt a sense of awe as I picked it up.
Crash!
The instant I grasped the halberd, a surge of fighting spirit and aggression filled me. Then, a tall, broad warrior with a round, red face and a long beard appeared before me like an apparition. He glanced me over and nodded, vanishing in an instant.
‘Did I just gain recognition as the master?’
It seemed this halberd had once belonged to a very powerful martial artist in life.
I stored the halberd in my wooden armor and ventured into the third chamber. Inside were five volumes, all of which housed a single Martial Arts Secret Manual.
“Hundred Change Divine Steal.”
I flipped through the pages of the manual, realizing why Han Jin-seong hadn’t brought it out himself.
“This… is a thief’s martial art.”
Indeed, the manual [Hundred Change Divine Steal] contained numerous transformation techniques, disguise techniques, and secret skills suited for theft. Despite its wealth of content, I couldn’t hide my disappointment as I read it.
‘Compared to the world-class martial skills I’ve learned until now, this is simply crude.’
While it did contain combat techniques and stealth skills usable in battles, they were only at the first-class level. If one had exceptional talent, it could allow them to become a top-tier martial artist, but for me at this point, it was meaningless. Comparing it to the Seven Great Techniques felt like an insult, and it certainly did not measure up to the martial arts of the Four Great Families, including the Fire Spirit Sect.
Of course, had I obtained this at the beginning of my rebirth, it could have been quite useful, but now, I was left questioning the need to diligently learn such thieving techniques. What purpose would it serve to practice the light body technique or pickpocketing skills now?
“……”
I hesitated but ultimately decided to store the Hundred Change Divine Steal manual, pondering that there might be some use for it later. I glanced back at the secret stash, reflecting,
‘Perhaps Han Jin-seong also stumbled upon this place by chance and used it as his secret funding source.’
The halberd and the Hundred Change Divine Steal were likely left behind since they had little utility to Han Jin-seong, while the platinum must have held the most value for him. Regardless, it was a significant windfall for me, and I exited the secret stash, heading outside.
Pa-at
My next destination was the Huashan Sect. Originally, if I wanted to find Yong Bi-cheon, it would be faster to head directly to the White Lotus Sect main branch. However, the [Old Ruler] was currently residing there. It would be perilous to wander around carelessly, so I decided to test the waters with Yong Junil instead.
Upon arriving at the residence of the Huashan Sect’s Leader, I found the Four Great Elders gathered. They were startled, like day-dreamers awakened, exclaiming as I appeared.
“W-what?”
“Who are you?!”
I shot them an appraisal before speaking.
“Yong Junil. I have something to discuss.”
Though he wasn’t visible right in front of me, I could feel it—strong gusts wafted from the innermost room, the unique aura belonging solely to Yong Junil from our past encounters. As the four elders slowly drew their swords, preparing to attack this mysterious intruder, that moment arrived.
Step
“Well met, the Avatar of the Fire Dragon.”
Yong Junil emerged as if to confront me. I gazed at him quietly and spoke.
“I’d prefer to talk one-on-one.”
“Fine by me.”
Yong Junil waved off the Four Great Elders of Huashan Sect. Now alone with him, I smirked and said,
“I anticipated the Fire Spirit Sect would bring in masters to protect you, but you seem to be quite unguarded.”
“Why would I need them? Anyone beneath the level of a martial artist would be pointless to me.”
Despite my subtle suggestion of the relationship between Huashan Sect and Fire Spirit Sect, Yong Junil seemed completely unfazed, as though he had no need to hide their close ties in front of me. He said,
“It seems you have something to say.”
“Yong Junil. I’ve heard that Han Baek-ryeong has been imprisoned by the Fire Spirit Sect. If you release her, I will leave peacefully.”
Upon my direct request, Yong Junil responded,
“If I were to release Han Baek-ryeong, what would you give me in return?”
“That would be…”
“It’s a joke.”
Huh?
Surprised by the unexpected change in attitude, I simply stared at him as he smiled wryly.
“In this situation, negotiating Han Baek-ryeong’s fate with someone like you brings me no benefit. She is being held in the secret room of the Shandong Family (山東岳家), so go find her.”
“In the Shandong Family? Were they subordinates of the Fire Spirit Sect?”
The Shandong Family was known as the best noble family in Shandong and a martial power boasting exceptional spear techniques, akin to one of the Five Great Families.
“Indeed.”
I narrowed my gaze at Yong Junil.
“What are you thinking? Even if what you’re saying is true, what is your actual intention?”
As I interrogated him, Yong Junil spoke calmly,
“I think you greatly underestimate the fall of the White Lotus Sect.”
“……!!”
“And you believe that events in the world lie completely in my hands. I shall soon renounce my position in Huashan Sect and fade into obscurity.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Heh…”
Yong Junil chuckled bitterly and replied,
“I’ve received news from the main branch of the White Lotus Sect that the leaders, including the Sect Leader, are currently in complete silence. The Blood Dragon Valley will rampage, and the True Heaven Alliance will be crushed.”
“……”
“Take this. Show this to the Shandong Family, and they will willingly release Han Baek-ryeong. Don’t interfere with us unnecessarily.”
With a flick, Yong Junil tossed me a jade ring. Looking inside, I saw the word 風 engraved within.
“I don’t know who you are, but we’ll meet again in another life.”
With that, Yong Junil turned and swiftly departed into his room. I wished to subdue him and extract more information, but considering what I’d faced before, Yong Junil was undoubtedly an expert at the threshold of the Absolute Realm. He was a foe I dared not provoke lightly, and given that he’d already revealed where Han Baek-ryeong was, there was no reason to stir the pot unnecessarily.
‘Hmm, I can’t quite grasp what he’s planning.’
I sighed inwardly as I headed towards the Shandong Family. I quickly located the Shandong Family’s clan leader and said,
“I command by the authority of this jade ring. Release Han Baek-ryeong.”
The clan leader looked taken aback and stammered,
“C-could it be that the Little Branch Leader commanded this…”
“Don’t waste your breath.”
“I understand!”
Perhaps convinced that I was Yong Junil’s envoy, he hurriedly led me into the secret inner chambers of the Shandong Family. Entering the subterranean prison, torches flickered to reveal Han Baek-ryeong, bound inside.
Han Baek-ryeong acknowledged my presence, saying,
“You’ve come.”
There were no signs of beating or humiliation. It seemed the Sect Leader had kept her promise to me. Additionally, there was another reason she likely remained unharmed.
“…The Heavenly Spirit Pill is still intact, it seems.”
Boom!
Before I could finish my sentence, the chains restraining Han Baek-ryeong shattered. The clan leader from the Shandong Family, who was watching from behind, turned pale.
“T-this is made from a special metal…”
There are hardly any substances in the world capable of restraining infinite internal power. I muttered inwardly as I spoke to Han Baek-ryeong.
“You could have wiped out the Shandong Family at any time, but why have you remained here?”
Rubbing her wrists, Han Baek-ryeong replied,
“The Sect Leader holds the lives of the Fire Spirit Sect as hostages. If I rebel, they will be annihilated, so I had no choice but to stay put.”
“I see. Let’s go together.”
“It seems circumstances have changed. Has the Sect Leader allowed you to release me?”
“He is dead.”
With that statement, surprise and panic crossed Han Baek-ryeong’s face.
“W-what do you mean?”
“I mean…”
Whoosh!
Before I could elaborate, a finger suddenly burst from Han Baek-ryeong’s hand, striking down the clan leader of the Shandong Family behind me in an instant. He was undoubtedly a formidable expert, yet Han Baek-ryeong dispatched him as easily as squashing a fly, without even changing her expression when piercing his forehead—he likely didn’t even realize he was dying.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“There are too many ears to hear such highly confidential information.”
“Hmm…”
This was a cold yet pragmatic judgment. Despite her imprisonment, I could see that Han Baek-ryeong still retained her original character. I explained to her the circumstances of the Sect Leader’s death, the existence that killed him, and the fate of the Young Master. Upon hearing my account, Han Baek-ryeong looked aghast.
“I never would have imagined it would be such a being…”
“Could it be that the ‘weakness’ you mentioned about the Sect Leader refers to the Young Master?”
“Indeed.”
Han Baek-ryeong replied calmly,
“I couldn’t provide specifics, but I discovered a relationship where if the Young Master dies, the Sect Leader would die too. However, I never thought the Young Master would transform into such a monster.”
“I just learned of it myself.”
As I pondered, I said,
“Han Baek-ryeong. At this rate, the White Lotus Sect will surely perish. Will you join hands with me and assist my endeavors?”
“Are you suggesting I become your subordinate?”
“That would be acceptable. If you join me, I can guarantee the safety of the Fire Spirit Sect.”
Han Baek-ryeong paused for a moment before agreeing.
“Understood.”
Pa-at
I swiftly exited the Shandong Family using Light Body Technique, extending the Fire Spirit Technique towards Han Baek-ryeong.
“What is this…?”
“I have a request.”
I looked firmly into Han Baek-ryeong’s eyes and said,
“Please channel your Fire Spirit Soul to ignite this Fire Elemental Sword.”