Reincarnation Sword God

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00506 암천향(暗天鄕) ————————————————————————=
Han Baek-ryeong seemed perplexed by my request. I had sensed the state of the Fire Dragon Incarnate beforehand and knew that he was currently in a protective state, shielding himself from the Sea God’s power, so I handed the sword, Flame Elemental Sword, to Han Baek-ryeong.
‘The Fire Dragon Incarnate imbued within the sword won’t harm Han Baek-ryeong, right?’
As the Flame Elemental Sword rested in her hand, she gazed at the blade for a moment before speaking.
“Fire Spirit. Do you know what the soul of the Fire Spirit is and are you asking me for it?”
“I understand it harnesses the power of a powerful flame.”
“……”
Han Baek-ryeong sighed slightly and spoke.
“The leader mentioned that you practice the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage; is that correct?”
“Yes. How did the leader come to know of that?”
“She said someone hiding in Luoyang found out.”
A displeasing feeling crept over me. Who had been digging into my whereabouts?
‘Could it be him?’
There was someone I suspected, but that wasn’t important right now, so I focused on what Han Baek-ryeong was saying.
“If you’ve inherited the teachings of the Thunder God Lineage, it’ll be easier to explain. The Fire Spirit’s soul is an incomplete ultimate technique akin to the Thunder Spirit Soul created by the previous Thunder God’s Dharma Guardian, Lee Cheong-un.”
“……!!”
“The Thunder Spirit Soul is a closely guarded secret of the sect, so you might not know about it.”
“I believe I’ve heard something like that.”
I had anticipated this, but hearing it directly from Han Baek-ryeong felt different.
It was a technique similar yet distinct from the Thunder Spirit Soul!
“… Lee Cheong-un’s Thunder Spirit Soul allows one to transform oneself into the Thunder Spirit and synchronize, becoming lightning itself. Likewise, I’ve relentlessly sought to transform my human body into the Flame Spirit over the years.”
“Was there a problem?”
“I realized there was a disparity in talent between Lee Cheong-un and me. Also, the differences in history…”
She continued with a sorrowful expression.
“Lee Cheong-un possesses the utmost talent throughout history, and since his predecessors continuously developed their techniques, he had no significant difficulties forming and maintaining the Thunder Spirit Soul. In contrast, I started my research from my generation and, lacking talent, the Fire Spirit’s soul became nothing but a nonsensical technique.”
“A nonsensical technique?”
“See for yourself.”
Whoosh!!
Suddenly, a massive flame erupted from Han Baek-ryeong’s body, and her form became translucent as gigantic fiery wings manifested. The flames shimmered brilliantly, creating a marvelous spectacle as her body appeared to transform into a spirit.
That was the Fire Spirit’s soul!
Han Baek-ryeong maintained that state for a moment before returning to her human form. Strangely, despite releasing such tremendous flames, her clothes showed no signs of damage at all.
“As you can see, maintaining the Fire Spirit’s soul is fleeting. However… during this moment, the Heavenly Spirit Pill was consumed nearly in half.”
“……!! Really?!”
“Indeed. No matter how much one has in the Heavenly Spirit Pill, it will take at least one meal’s time to recover from the consumed energy. It consumed a tremendous amount of internal power in but a breath.”
“……”
“The Thunder Spirit Soul is different from the Fire Spirit’s soul. While the Thunder Spirit Soul also consumes a significant amount of internal power, if one possesses the Heavenly Spirit Pill, the loss is minimal, allowing for free use. The Fire Spirit’s soul consumes over ten times the internal power in an instant compared to the Thunder Spirit Soul, making it virtually unusable.”
A shocking revelation.
If that were the case, then even someone who owned the Heavenly Spirit Pill would find the Fire Spirit’s soul nearly impossible to use? I finally understood why Han Baek-ryeong hadn’t recklessly used the Fire Spirit’s soul despite having it. It was a technique that demanded an absurd amount of internal power, even overwhelming limitless internal power.
‘… In my 19th reincarnation, I forced the use of the Fire Spirit’s soul utilizing the power of the altar and immortality.’
Perhaps if I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been able to stop Lee Cheong-un, who had attained the realm of the Thunder Spirit Soul. He could incapacitate the Dharma Guardian of the Su Shin Sect with just one strike by attacking their brain—only by reaching the same realm could I hope to contend with him.
While I was deep in thought, Han Baek-ryeong continued.
“When I defeated the Demon Sorcerer in Luoyang, I had to hastily utilize the Fire Spirit’s soul to lend strength, but I can’t guarantee that I can achieve the same might again if I employ it now.”
“Why not? If the Heavenly Spirit Pill hasn’t recovered because you used the Fire Spirit’s soul, then we could just wait a bit…”
“It’s not that simple.”
Han Baek-ryeong shook her head.
“Somewhere along the line, my power has weakened. The limitless internal power contained within the Heavenly Spirit Pill has decreased. I believe my current power is only about seventy percent of what it was when I first met you.”
“……”
“I suspect this phenomenon isn’t just limited to me; the leader and other Dharma Guardians may be experiencing the same. They inquired about the diminishing power of the Primordial Spirit and the Heavenly Spirit Pill. I couldn’t respond as I didn’t know the reason.”
I could surmise the reason well enough.
‘It’s because I defeated the Sea God.’
The Heavenly Spirit Pill contracts drew power from ‘Father’ through the Sea God as a medium. The same was true for the Primordial Spirit. However, after I defeated the Sea God and left him in a near-death state, the contracts weakened, and the Primordial Spirit and the Heavenly Spirit Pill also gradually declined.
The Heavenly Spirit Pill weakened because the Sea God was dying.
If the Sea God were to die completely, wouldn’t that nullify the contract of the Heavenly Spirit Pill?
I pondered deeply before speaking to Han Baek-ryeong.
“… Even so, I cannot afford to ignore this. I implore you to lend me your strength. If the Fire Dragon Incarnate does not awaken, we will have no means to face strong opponents in the future.”
“It seems I have no choice. Since I’ve explained beforehand, please do not hold it against me if the Incarnate does not awaken…”
“Of course. Then let’s take a short break before we begin.”
After taking a sufficient break for about half a moment, Han Baek-ryeong summoned the Fire Spirit’s soul to its utmost and began to ignite the Flame Elemental Sword.
Fwoosh
It wasn’t the conventional sound of flames consuming a material. The strength of the Fire Spirit’s soul, summoned by Han Baek-ryeong, seemed to draw into the Flame Elemental Sword as if there were an invisible hole. Considering that the flame she exhaled could burn dozens of miles, this absorption power was unfathomable.
‘Truly the Seven Luminaries of flames…!!’
The time to summon the Fire Spirit’s soul was limited. My anxious heart pushed me closer to Han Baek-ryeong as I tried to channel my internal power into her back but flinched.
“Gah!”
In an instant, I realized that nearly eighty percent of my internal power had been siphoned away. How much internal power was I using in this moment?! The issue was that despite absorbing so much of my internal power, there was no indication that Han Baek-ryeong’s Fire Spirit’s soul had truly recovered; it was evident she was using a scale of internal power unfit for human discussion.
Fwoosh!!
However, change did occur. After initially devouring the power of flames like an abyss, the Flame Elemental Sword began to react to the fire, slowly ceasing its consumption. And as Han Baek-ryeong stumbled and fell after exhausting the Fire Spirit’s soul, I hurriedly supported her.
“Are you alright?”

“Huff… huff…”
Han Baek-ryeong was drenched in bead-like sweat. She slightly opened her eyes to say,
“The promise… must… protect the Fire Spirit Techniques…”
“Understood. Please rest a moment.”
Once Han Baek-ryeong fainted, I checked her condition via pulse diagnosis. Despite expending nearly all her Heavenly Spirit Pill, her original reservoir of internal power was substantial, and I could tell her life was not in danger. Furthermore, the Rebirth of Flesh wasn’t a change driven by the presence or absence of internal power but a permanent transformation of her body, so there was no need to worry about her dying due to abrupt aging.
I moved closer to the Flame Elemental Sword and picked it up.
Zing –
Suddenly, the Flame Elemental Sword emitted an orange glow. As though it had been resurrected, a powerful energy surged forth. Moments later, a divine aura poured from the blade, and the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s image appeared before my eyes.
[Are you the Dharma Protector? Did you restore me?]
“Yes. Are you alright now?”
[… Not yet. I’ve expelled the Sea God’s power, but I am still not ready for battle.]
The Fire Dragon Incarnate answered heavily, showing evident signs of fatigue. He had just barely regained some vitality after being trapped in a protective state due to the Sea God’s power and was like a human who had just lifted their upper body from a sickbed. It would be unwise to force the Fire Dragon Incarnate into battle in this state. I spoke to the Fire Dragon Incarnate.
“I’ll help you recover your strength further.”
[No. Rather, I wish to speak with the entity embedded within you, Dharma Protector.]
“Are you referring to Grand Master Jang Sam-bong?”
[Indeed. Send forth that body of the overlay technique.]
Fwoosh
Moments later, Jang Sam-bong descended into my body. The Fire Dragon Incarnate addressed Jang Sam-bong.
[I have been receiving information about the Celestial Realm even during my slumber. Are you the overlay technique working alongside the Apostle following Yeodong-bin?]
Jang Sam-bong bowed respectfully.
[I am Jang Sam-bong, the Fire Dragon Incarnate of Shenglong. Do you have something to say to me…?]
[If this continues, both you and I, the Dharma Protector, will inevitably clash against King Mi-hu.]
[……]
[However, even if I am at full power, I would struggle to handle King Mi-hu. You must provide significant aid.]
Jang Sam-bong pondered the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s words for a moment and then replied.
[That being said, that individual is called the strongest among the overlay techniques. Thus, their importance in the Celestial Realm is evidently significant, so do not act recklessly. Is there any reason you believe that King Mi-hu will turn his blade toward us?]
[The Dharma Protector is considering fighting or persuading the Demon King. Regardless of the outcome, King Mi-hu will also be aiming for the Demon King, so we cannot avoid conflict.]
[Hmm…]
Jang Sam-bong spoke with a look of despair.
[Fire Dragon Incarnate, that information is part of the divine secrets. Your position should never have allowed such a disclosure.]
[As a servant of the Three Sovereigns, those principles may not apply.]
[… That’s too arbitrary an interpretation.]
It seemed that Jang Sam-bong had a tendency to adhere to the principles of the Celestial Realm. The information the Fire Dragon Incarnate had shared regarding King Mi-hu was likely something Jang Sam-bong also already knew but had not disclosed to me. Jang Sam-bong let out a soft sound of contemplation before speaking.
[We are all subjects of the Celestial Realm. Should a conflict with King Mi-hu arise, the three clears will decide the conclusion, so we cannot definitively say we will fight.]
[Do you say that despite already knowing the state of the realm?]
[……]
[This is a time more chaotic than even the Man Tang era. Consider carefully what defines righteousness.]
[I will judge for myself, so take note of that.]
Fwoosh!
At last, the Fire Dragon Incarnate entered the Flame Elemental Sword. It appeared as though he deemed it more important to quickly recover his power than to argue further with Jang Sam-bong. Once Jang Sam-bong’s possession ended, I vehemently protested to him.
[Grand Master Jang! Did you keep the information that King Mi-hu is targeting the Demon King from me?!]
[Indeed.]
I was astounded.
The fact that the Overlay Technique King Mi-hu was still active on the ground, targeting the Demon King, was information of the highest priority. If mismanaged, it could force me to alter all my plans and possibly even lead to life-threatening circumstances.
‘Perhaps the Fire Dragon Incarnate is informed of the Celestial Realm due to being the incarnation of Shenglong.’
Had the Fire Dragon Incarnate not indirectly informed me of information from the Celestial Realm, I’d likely still be ignorant of it.
[Why? You and I are bound together by fate…]
[However, you are also an Apostle of the Three Sovereigns. The three clear of the Celestial Realm have given me strict orders not to disclose excessive divine secrets to you.]
[……!!]
[Please understand, Dharma Protector.]
The Three Clear had ordered him to keep an eye on me?
Then it wasn’t merely Jang Sam-bong’s character that made him especially passive; the higher-ups of the Celestial Realm had directed him as such?
I couldn’t comprehend it and asked,
[What on earth… Wasn’t the Three Sovereigns in alliance with the Celestial Realm?]
[Dharma Protector… This is a very complex issue. The Three Sovereigns are a colossal entity that benefits humanity, yet they were once a great evil. Their perception of humans differs from that of the Celestial Realm. Thus, the Celestial Realm cannot blindly trust them, maintaining a safe distance for a long time. Therefore, they could not fully share information with you, now that you have become an Apostle of the Three Sovereigns.]
[……]
[I know it is not my intention…]
Jang Sam-bong’s voice grew somber; he, too, seemed frustrated with the orders from the Celestial Realm. I felt an intense wave of emotion but realized that venting my frustrations at Jang Sam-bong wouldn’t yield any results. I should take it out on the ones who issued the order.
Gritting my teeth, I spoke aloud.
“… I will forget it. So how is King Mi-hu intending to pursue the Demon King?”
[Huh… Are you asking me to reveal information instead?]
“That is correct. If you truly regard me as your Dharma Protector.”
[It seems I must concede.]
Jang Sam-bong continued.
[After eliminating the sorcerer, King Mi-hu was silently gathering information while hiding in human cities. He is adept at transformation techniques and can take on various appearances, so he is likely still lurking somewhere. Moreover, he will soon invade the Demon King’s stronghold.]
“Even if King Mi-hu is strong, they say the Demon King surpasses the Great Immortal; how could he tackle this alone?”
[King Mi-hu is special. He embodies the divine demons of the mythological age, making him uniquely formidable. Thus, the Celestial Realm believes that at the very least, King Mi-hu will be capable of sealing the Demon King.]
“……”
Such tremendous faith.
No matter how strong they say the strongest among the overlay techniques is, did they truly consider King Mi-hu to be that powerful?
I found myself asking in confusion.
“Then why does the Heavenly Sovereign issue a decree? If King Mi-hu can take on the Demon King alone, is there really a need for…”
[It’s not solely for the Demon King.]
“What do you mean?”
[The destruction of the Sea God triggered significant upheaval in the Law of Cause and Effect, heightening the likelihood of manifestations of the incarnates or apostles of the Old Ruler in the Central Plains. It’s possible that occurrences of beings even greater than the Demon King might appear, hence the decree from the Celestial Realm.]
That made sense.
Considering the power of the Old Ruler’s incarnation that had manifested in the White Lotus Sect, as well as the potential appearance of any other formidable apostles or incarnates, the Central Plains would undoubtedly face chaos and massacre on a daily basis. I spoke to Jang Sam-bong.
“From now on, please do not hide information from me. This is a request as your Dharma Protector.”
[Hah, understood.]
Fwoosh
Before I returned to the base after escorting Han Baek-ryeong to the Han Clan, I sought the will of the mysterious Sangwan Hyuk. Realizing that he was nowhere to be found, I wore a disgusted expression.
“Of course, it would be that bastard…”
No doubt about it.
The fact that I practiced the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage, and that the very circumstances in Luoyang involving the Fire Spirit techniques were reported to the leader could only have been the work of the mysterious Sangwan Hyuk. It would be entirely possible for him to gather this information through the magic of the sacrificial horse. Moreover, when the aura of the White Lotus Sect’s master and executives suddenly vanished, he likely grew suspicious and hid himself.
I had anticipated this to some extent, but I never expected him to stab me in the back even after helping him break the Soul Exchange Technique!
‘Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I would’ve securely turned him into a puppet using that Soul Exchange Technique…’
Thinking of how I was held back by the master of the White Lotus Sect because of him left me enraged, and though I considered slaughtering every single human being in this will, I forcibly suppressed that murderous intent. It was wrong to take out my anger for Sangwan Hyuk’s sins on others. I decided to first return to Jangryeong Valley.
I then recounted everything that had transpired to Mangnyang and his group. Mangnyang spoke in a flustered tone.
“This is troublesome. I was just about to head to liberate the Water Element of the Seven Luminaries; I never imagined a variable like King Mi-hu would appear…”
“Should we try to find King Mi-hu?”
“……”
After pondering for a moment, Mangnyang shook his head.
“No, we have no time for that. Whether King Mi-hu assaults the Demon King or not, our priority is to liberate the Water Element of the Seven Luminaries and gain strength.”
Fwoosh!
Soon after, I accompanied Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin to the Heavenly Altar of Songshan. The Master of Zen from the Shaolin Temple awaited us as if he had been expecting us.
“You’ve arrived.”
“We’ve come to liberate the Seven Luminaries; ensure no one approaches the altar.”
“Of course.”
The Master of Zen proclaimed confidently.
“With Mr. Bin, priests, along with the Eighteen Arhats, Four Great Families, and the One Hundred and Eight Arhats in attendance, there isn’t anyone who could easily breach the gates of the Shaolin Temple.”
And so at the Heavenly Altar, Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin set up flags and completed the preparations for the Offering Ceremony.
Whoooong!!
Moments later, when the Offering Ceremony commenced, I could feel a colossal entity descending upon Songshan.
The presence was so immense that it was suffocating, radiating an aura from before its arrival. Cheon Woo-jin, in shock, exclaimed,
“Gah… This is… Could it be…”
“Cheon Woo-jin, what’s the problem?!”
“N-no…”
“We placed the Water Element on the altar to summon it! Of course, Jeon Wook would emerge from this…”
Naturally, we had set up the Offering Ceremony to summon Jeon Wook, my direct supervisor as the Apostle since it would be far easier to unseal than others. Therefore, it was obvious to expect Jeon Wook to appear in the Offering Ceremony now. However, Cheon Woo-jin’s reaction suggested that that was not the case.
Cheon Woo-jin shouted,
“The ritual… can’t use the magical arts! This is absurd…”
“……?!”
“Something outrageous is taking place at this Heavenly Altar…”
Boom!!
Suddenly, it seemed as if the world had come to a halt.
And all light vanished from existence, plunging everything into perfect darkness, and even the aura of living beings seemed to fade away completely. I could sense the presence of Mangnyang, Cheon Woo-jin, the Master of Zen, and the other people dissipating.
It resembled the scenery that unfolded when receiving the blessings of the Great Creation, yet there was a distinct difference.
This darkness carried an unsettling madness, as if something from a dire abyss were gnawing at my sanity.
I inhaled sharply, feeling that the very air of this darkness was an assault on my mind.
‘This darkness itself is a mental attack…’
What on earth was going on?
What had transpired?
While I was steeped in confusion, I could see something slowly revealing itself amidst the darkness.
Ooooooo –
That was when I realized.
This place was not the human realm.
The moment the Offering Ceremony unfurled, a gargantuan entity forcefully dragged me into another dimension.
In the midst of the starry universe, where the original starlight had stretched across the cosmos, I had been forcibly locked into the darkest depths of a dimension. Upon grasping the situation, extreme fear surged through me.
The darkness wriggled ominously.
Was that a snake? No, a dragon?
A grotesque yet radiantly terrifying power of darkness seemed poised to swallow even the brightest stars. It was so massive that a single scale appeared to be larger than a continent, and with each movement, it felt as though the world itself were collapsing under its weight. I had never seen anything so colossal in my life.
That was a great being.
And that [essence].
It bore a striking resemblance to when I had seen the immense dark form of Jeon Wook.
UUUUU
The writhing mass of darkness lightly shattered my body with nothing but a cry.
I became cosmic dust.
[Manifest the Power.]
Fwoosh
“……”
I suddenly found myself seated in Jangryeong Valley. And before me stood Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin, who appeared astonished, having completed their preparations.
As cold sweat poured from me while I sat down, they wore expressions of shock.
“Baek Woong, what’s wrong?!”
“Uuuugh…”
I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I held my head.
“… Let’s pause the liberation of the Water Element.”