Reincarnation Sword God

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00534 Dark Heaven Village

After recruiting Zhuge Sa, I decided to relocate my base from Jinrang Valley to Jangryeong Valley. Although Mangnyang had cultivated some level of an intelligence network and power in Jinrang Valley, it couldn’t compare to what Zhuge Sa had established in Jangryeong Valley. So, I immediately set out to gather the remaining fortuitous encounters.

*Pa-at!*

The first place I went to was the hidden blood of Fire Spirit Techniques revealed to me by Han Jin-seong, the empty southeastern cave of Longmen Grottoes. Since I already remembered the coordinates inside, I didn’t need to break down the wall behind the fifteenth Buddha statue. Just as I expected, there was a tremendous amount of platinum stored here, which would certainly help me greatly.

I also packed away the halberd and five volumes of the secret techniques of Baek Byeonshin-tou from the hidden cave of the southeastern chamber. In fact, the most important thing I could obtain here was the platinum, which would serve as the basis for expanding my financial power.

‘I want to rescue the immortals at Mount Penglai, but that’s a bit too risky right now, isn’t it?’

I could forcibly seek out the Seven Stars Altar at Tamra Island and open a path to Mount Penglai with the help of Cheon Woo-jin. However, that area was currently ruled by the Sea God, and it was clear that the Sea God Clan residing there while their god was still alive would be quite powerful. Even if I did rescue the immortals, I couldn’t avoid drawing unnecessary attention from the Sea God. It was evident that this was something I couldn’t attempt until I had built up a considerable amount of power.

*Pa-at!*

I immediately headed toward the heart of the Life Sea in Aokigahara, where Cheongwol was. Soon, I discovered the dying figure of Cheongwol and put him into my wooden armor.

“Is that guy not around?”

I glanced around for the hat-wearing warrior I had seen before, but there was no sign of anyone fighting or moving, just the cries of demon beasts wallowing in the abyss echoing everywhere. I figured it would be dangerous to linger too long, so I quickly exited using the Golden Lamp technique.

I took a brief detour to the coastal area of Tamra Island to admire the clear sea, reminding myself of Zhuge Sa’s words.

[First, acquire the hidden cave in the southeastern chamber. Then, rescue Cheongwol. After that, strengthen yourself until you can obtain the National Seal of the Imperial Palace and the Nameless Ritual Book all at once.]

[What about the Flame Elemental Sword and the Fire Dragon Sword?]

[Basing on my experiences up until now, rushing won’t cut it. Stirring up the White Lotus Sect, Fire Spirit Techniques, and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors all at once would undoubtedly accelerate the urgency of the task. The moment we obtain the Flame Elemental Sword, the celestial realm will keep a close eye on us, right? Holding two of the Seven Luminaries could become blatantly obvious.]

[That’s true.]

[There isn’t anyone who can snatch them away right now, so waiting a bit is necessary. The same goes for the National Seal. What’s important is for you to grow stronger. Let’s discuss the next steps after you return.]

Zhuge Sa seemed to share the same perspective as Mangnyang: it was better to be cautious in this life. Clearly, as Zhuge Sa said, if I sought advanced treasures like the Flame Elemental Sword, Fire Dragon Sword, or National Seal without sufficient power, the level of enemies would surely rise dramatically.

‘Hmmm… But this feels a bit too dull.’

I want to do as much as I can. The more I act, the more time I can save. As I pondered how to avoid being a nuisance, a brilliant idea crossed my mind.

“Alright. Should I give that a try?”

*Pa-at!*

When I arrived at the Qingzhang Plateau, it wasn’t to find the Thunder Temple again, but because heading a bit more southwest would lead me to the terrain of the Heavenly Contraction Continent.

Heavenly Contraction!

It was the continent known to lie west of China, and it was also the origin of Buddhism. Additionally, I had heard that an alien civilization existed there, with unique religions worshiping Western gods like Brahma that had developed. Moreover, Zhuge Sa had mentioned that the Demon Path in Heavenly Contraction was highly advanced, making it a place not to be underestimated.

‘Let’s go!’

If I was going to trace the clues of the Three Legions, I’d inevitably end up in Heavenly Contraction. This was hinted at by King Mi-hu himself, who mentioned that the Three Legions had revealed something in Heavenly Contraction. Hence, I decided to pave the path from the Qingzhang Plateau to Heavenly Contraction in advance for quicker exploration.

*Tydaht!*

I started running. Having already sprinted around the western regions once, I was not afraid of reaching Heavenly Contraction. Running at my Light Body Technique speed, I reckoned I could reach their shores soon. I began to leap through the treacherous snowy mountains and ridges from the plateau.

After about a day’s worth of running, I caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar tribe herding sheep in a serene mountain area. Their clothing was markedly different from those of people from the Qingzhang region, leading me to think I must have entered the early borders of Heavenly Contraction.

Then it happened.

[Baek Woong. Where on earth are you?]

Zhuge Sa contacted me through the Suspicious Fishhook. I replied through the same method.

[I’m on my way to Heavenly Contraction.]

[……]

Zhuge Sa fell silent for a moment before breaking into laughter.

[Hehe… Talking to you is just a waste of breath. I think I know what you’re up to, so just keep going. Contact me again after you reach one of the big cities in Heavenly Contraction.]

[Got it.]

I was relieved; I thought I might get scolded. I continued running with a light heart.

*Pa-at!*

As I sprinted on, I felt I had lost my sense of direction for a moment, so I decided to execute the Heavenly Secret Technique. While searching for a strong spirit in the area, I stumbled upon the spirit of an ancient warrior and summoned him.

[Did you call for me?]

“Who are you?”

[I am the captain of the Mamluks who served Saladin!]

“What’s your name?”

[I don’t have one since I’m a slave!]

Saladin? Mamluk?

I was perplexed by the incomprehensible language of Heavenly Contraction. Of course, this wasn’t the first time I had received foreign information, so I nodded and spoke.

“Anyway, I’m on my way to find the biggest city in Heavenly Contraction. Please help me get there.”

[The biggest city… that would be Cairo!]

“Cairo? Show me some memories.”

*Hisssss…*

The so-called Mamluk captain conveyed his memories to me. Instantly, I identified a rough map and terrain of the Heavenly Contraction area, pinpointed the location of Cairo, and was puzzled as I said,

“… Isn’t this too far west to be called Heavenly Contraction? It seems to be located in the northern part of the so-called Black Continent.”

The ‘Black Continent’ was a place that I had only heard of from Zhuge Sa, characterized as a very hot and uncivilized land. Since it lay much farther west than Heavenly Contraction, I immediately recognized that the Mamluk captain was an outsider rather than a local.

[Is that so? I really wouldn’t know! I came here from the eastern battlefield where I died.]

“Why did you come all the way to die at the eastern frontier?”

[I participated in the great war where the Western sorcerers and monsters invaded, led by my lord Saladin, and after defeating the enemies, I was unfortunately killed in the second Eastern Expansion War!]

“……”

It seemed something complex regarding the history of Heavenly Contraction was coming into play, and it made my head spin. For me now, it was tough to learn and unnecessary to know about this history. So, I sighed and said,

“Since you were summoned through the Heavenly Secret Technique, you must have been a powerful warrior in life. Just lend me your body for a moment and take me to a nearby city.”

[Alright!]

*Pa-at!*

Before I knew it, the Mamluk captain possessed my body, and we began racing.

[A tremendous chakra!! Are you a demigod? Your chakra is not human!]

The Mamluk captain marveled as he effortlessly soared a dozen times. Indeed, he seemed quite accustomed to handling qi and was employing the divine techniques with ease. Watching him harness these techniques, I felt a sense of wonder.

[Is martial arts also developed in Heavenly Contraction?]

[Martial arts?]

[It refers to exerting superhuman strength using qi…]

When I explained the concept of martial arts, he quickly comprehended and responded.

[Are you referring to controlling chakra through yoga? Chakra and yoga are fundamentals practiced by advanced warriors since ancient times! While I’m not a Brahmin or yogi, I diligently trained in martial arts during my lifetime. Thus, I can enhance my combat strength by unleashing my chakra.]

[Is that so.]

[Even though I’m saying this, I was the strongest among the Mamluks under the command of Saladin!]

Hearing his words, I grasped one critical truth.

‘It seems that all human beings across the world understand qi!’

In the West, it’s Kraft.
In Heavenly Contraction, it’s Chakra.
Although the names differ, all understood and could manipulate the force known as ‘qi.’ Qi is not a privilege reserved only for the Central Plains people.

The Mamluk captain, being proficient in the martial arts using qi during his lifetime, had risen to such power that he could be summoned by the Heavenly Secret Technique. In the Central Plains, he would have been a pinnacle expert at the very end of his life. My curiosity was piqued by the captain’s earlier words, so I asked:

[You mentioned that you participated in the war when the Western sorcerers invaded. What was that war about?]

[There was a time when countless knights and sorcerers from the West amassed a huge army to invade our lands. We fought back against them and ultimately succeeded in defending our territory after a long war. They were a vicious bunch who worshiped evil gods but invaded, claiming to reclaim their holy land.]

He continued with a sense of loss.

[If I hadn’t been hurt by a saber from a lion-hearted king in that war, I wouldn’t have died here in this foreign land… Still, it was a war to protect the holy land!]

[Holy land?]

[I don’t know much in detail. I was just a soldier in the war, so ask someone else.]

*Pa-at!*

He continued to race for about five moments. Eventually, we arrived at some massive city, and from a distant hill, he gazed at the city and said,

[We have arrived. That’s Banaras. It’s not quite Cairo, but it’s the most prosperous city in these parts!]

[Banaras? What’s it like there?]

[It’s a historic place filled with people who believe in Hinduism.]

*Whooosh…*

As the Mamluk captain slowly began to withdraw from my body, he cautioned me before completely separating. In fact, he seemed a bit apprehensive.

[… Hey, we’ve done a good job, so you’re going to truly save me, right?]

Huh?

I was taken aback by his sudden question.

“What do you mean by save?”

[Isn’t this technique a promise of salvation? That’s why I’ve been anxiously waiting, even turned down the afterlife.]

“……?”

[I thought a Brahmin or yogi would save me, but unexpected, an outsider is doing it.]

The Mamluk captain, who was speaking inexplicably, flashed a bright smile and waved goodbye.

[Haha! Anyway, I’m off to be saved!]

*Flash!*

His spirit vanished into thin air. This was a common occurrence whenever using the Heavenly Secret Technique; once the mission ended, the summoned spirit would suddenly disappear. Curiously, the Heavenly Secret Technique held no records of where, why, or how those spirits went, leaving me without a clue.

“……”

Salvation?
How could the Heavenly Secret Technique be related to salvation?
What exactly am I being saved from? And the terms Brahmin or yogi referred to the upper-class of Heavenly Contraction society or practitioners of sorcery. Did that mean they also knew how to use similar techniques to the Heavenly Secret Technique reserved for the Great Immortal?

As questions piled up in my mind, I shook my head to clear it.

“Tch. There’s no point in pondering things I don’t understand!”

For now, I need to head to the city ahead!
Entering Banaras, I surveyed the city. Unlike the West, it didn’t seem particularly advanced in culture, and the people were dressed in fashions distinct from what I had seen in the Central Plains. Like the Central Plains, the city had a royal palace at its center.

I moved towards the royal palace, but there wasn’t anything remarkably special about it. The only peculiar thing was that the guards were equipped with firearms resembling matchlocks.

‘Is everyone outside the Central Plains using firearms?’

Perhaps the Central Plains had fallen behind the trend of global civilization advancement?
Feeling an uneasy pressure, I shook my head and employed the Golden Lamp technique.

*Pa-at!*

Upon returning to Jangryeong Valley, Zhuge Sa looked at me with disappointment.

“Is it necessary to waste time on something that isn’t even urgent right now?”

I scratched my head sheepishly.

“Sorry. But it makes me feel better to get things done in advance…”

“Well, it’s fine. Anyway, as long as you’ve established a foothold to access Heavenly Contraction, that’s what matters. Which city did you reach?”

“Banaras.”

“Oh, you made it there. There should be Vedas around there…”

Zhuge Sa muttered something under his breath.

“Don’t worry about things in Heavenly Contraction for now. Instead, take Miho to Dongyoung and come back.”

“Miho?”

“You need to mine obsidian. You’ll have plenty of need for it moving forward, so it’s best to find and claim an obsidian mine.”

“Ah…”

“To do that, you’ll need some money, so give Miho the platinum you retrieved from the hidden southeastern chamber. Even if you can use illusions, it’s better to have some funds when negotiating with the Shogun of the Shogunate. Purchasing the obsidian mine would be the most prudent move with that platinum.”

“That makes sense.”

Now that I thought about it, Miho was the power broker in Dongyoung. If Miho could leverage her political influence, she could provide a steady supply of the obsidian I would need moving forward. Zhuge Sa continued.

“After you take Miho and come back, begin your training in Jangryeong Valley. Once your training is on track, we’ll monitor the Imperial Palace and start making moves to obtain the Nameless Ritual Book and the National Seal.”

“Got it.”

He smirked.

“I’ll do my best to support you. So, in this life, whether it be rice or porridge, focus on training without restraint.”