Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 1 – Dark Heaven Village

I arrived at the Dragon King’s Valley with Lee Cheong-un, not to awkwardly drag out Dokgo Seong but to visit the temple where he resided. This temple was a relic from the Tang Dynasty where Master Ha Taek, the seventh patriarch of the Southern School of Zen, had lived in seclusion during his later years, and Dokgo Seong was making his stay there.

“He’s not here.”

Dokgo Seong was absent. Lee Cheong-un casually sat on the fur spread on the floor, while I faced him. After waiting a little over half a moment, I sensed an aura approaching the temple door, which gradually got closer.

The presence observed Lee Cheong-un before speaking in a trembling voice.

“No… it can’t be… this is impossible…”

Lee Cheong-un glanced that way and grinned.

“What seems impossible? I am Lee Cheong-un, your older brother.”

“……!!”

Thud.

Dokgo Seong, the temple’s owner, dropped the rabbit he had seemingly caught for dinner. He stood there in a daze for a moment before speaking.

“Do you remember what our master said when he took you for a trip to the Black Cat Peak?”

Lee Cheong-un answered naturally, “He handed his sword to you, saying the Thunder God Lineage’s sword arts were entrusted to you. I remember it clearly.”

“Wow…!!”

Dokgo Seong approached Lee Cheong-un, tears streaming down his face as he tightly grasped his hand. It was unlike the aloof, dignified sword master we had come to know. Dokgo Seong, confirming the vitality in Lee Cheong-un’s hand, muttered in astonishment.

“This can’t be a dream, can it? You’re alive! The Grandmaster of the Thunder God Lineage is alive!!”

“I am alive, older brother.”

“Uhehehe…!! Yes, truly, yes!! With this, the Thunder God Lineage is revived!!”

Dokgo Seong broke down into tears, displaying a vulnerability that tugged at my heartstrings.

‘Though unspoken, Dokgo Seong must have held the Thunder God Lineage’s situation in deep despair.’

When he heard of Lee Cheong-un’s death, did he not feel as if he had lost everything? In the eyes of the Four Great Families, the Grandmaster’s presence was of absolute significance. After a brief reunion, Lee Cheong-un introduced me to Dokgo Seong.

“This is my newly accepted disciple, Baek Woong.”

Wiping away his tears, Dokgo Seong looked at me and said, “Truly a disciple of the Grandmaster. I can feel you’ve reached an impressive sword realm.”

Can he recognize it at a glance?

As I silently admired Dokgo Seong’s keen insight, he continued.

“But what about Lee Kwang? That kid should also still be alive…”

Lee Cheong-un replied bitterly, “There are circumstances.”

“Then… if the Grandmaster says so, then it must be.”

Dokgo Seong showed no sign of further inquiry, which was strange considering his typically meticulous nature. It spoke volumes about Lee Cheong-un’s extraordinary stature. Despite their familiar titles as master and disciple, Dokgo Seong inherently acknowledged Lee Cheong-un’s superiority.

“I plan to explain the details later, but first, the matter at hand.”

“Indeed.”

Lee Cheong-un spoke, “I wish to pass on the Sword Thunder technique to this child.”

Gasp!

Dokgo Seong reacted with a hint of surprise.

“The Sword Thunder?”

“Yes.”

“But Grandmaster, haven’t you already reached the extreme of the Thunder Principle Realm? Teaching him would be pointless if I could teach him directly…”

To this, Lee Cheong-un replied, “Initially, I aimed to teach you my vision, but there’s still a long way to go before it can be acquired. Therefore, we need to first cultivate the foundation that he’s gained. Also, regarding the sword, you have practiced longer than I have, so I trust you to teach him well.”

“Hmmm… the Grandmaster’s expertise is in the spear.”

“Indeed. While I can also use the Sword Thunder, you certainly have greater finesse with it.”

“……”

Dokgo Seong folded his arms and sat in contemplation for a while before finally speaking.

“Grandmaster, you’re not thinking of making Baek Woong your successor, are you?”

“Why do you say that?”

“… If he struggles with Sword Thunder, he cannot possibly be the Grandmaster’s heir. It’s truly puzzling.”

As he muttered, Dokgo Seong leaned forward slightly.

“Speak frankly, disciple. What’s really going on?”

Lee Cheong-un answered, “It’s an essential process for the revival of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Can you not divulge more than that?”

“That’s right.”

Such an unpredictable answer! Yet, Dokgo Seong let out a resigned sigh.

“I understand. I, Dokgo Seong of the Thunder God Lineage, shall heed your orders.”

“Thank you.”

“Then I will teach this child and pass on the Sword Thunder.”

“Please do. Soon, Baek Woong will return alone.”

Lee Cheong-un stood up, and I followed him out for a moment as we prepared to take him to Jangryeong Valley.

Crash!

As soon as we arrived, Lee Cheong-un addressed me, “Your older brother is the greatest sword master in the Thunder God Lineage. It shouldn’t take long for you to gain Sword Thunder. Focus and acquire it, and once you have it all, return to me.”

I replied suspiciously, “How can you be so sure? Sword Thunder is a pinnacle of ascension.”

Sword Thunder was part of the Thunder Principle Realm. It referred to condensing one’s essence into the lightning of thought, known as Heart Lightning! Thus, the power of the Thunder Principle Realm, which included Sword Thunder, possessed terrifying might that could cut through ordinary Qi. It was a superior realm, unquestioningly the pinnacle within the sword techniques of the Thunder God Lineage.

That’s why I distinctly recalled how difficult it had been to grasp Sword Thunder under Dokgo Seong’s tutelage, gasping for breath even though my training period was brief. Even if I had trained for a longer duration, I had a premonition it would still be exceedingly tough. Surely, Lee Cheong-un couldn’t be unaware of this, yet he spoke as if it were trivial.

Lee Cheong-un said, “Didn’t you know? You have already reached a swordsmanship level where acquiring Sword Thunder is possible.”

“Huh?”

“You have practiced the formidable techniques of the Seven Great Techniques, including the Excellent Arts of the Eight Immortals, for decades, and you’ve experienced combat during the descent of the Immortal Overlay technique more than a few times. Moreover, you diligently received teachings from all kinds of martial geniuses and even faced conflicts among peak experts! Plus, with Yeodong-bin’s help, you overcame the chaos of the Sword Family; the profundity that has seeped into your swordsmanship is incalculable. If your martial art talents had been just a notch higher, you could have founded a school of swordsmanship reflecting your philosophy already and could even rival Jang Sam-bong. Honestly, no one in the history of the Martial Arts World could have received such tremendous fortuity as you.”

“……”

With that, Lee Cheong-un flashed a smile.

“Thus, the reason you have yet to acquire Sword Thunder hasn’t been about difficulty, but rather that you didn’t have time to refine what you acquired. And now that the opportunity has arisen, you should easily gain it.”

“An opportunity?”

“The Seventh Sensation is starting to resonate within you.”

He explained calmly.

“The Sixth Sense allows you to perceive things beyond normal sensory limits. You must adeptly handle this area to ascend to the Realm of Intent. If so, what do you think the Seventh Sensation represents?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. I believe the Master of the White Lotus Sect emphasized the Seventh Sensation as important.”

As I trailed off, Lee Cheong-un chimed in. “The Sixth Sense cannot predict the future, but the Seventh Sense is a sensation that transcends time and space, potentially allowing for future predictions. Borrowing from the Sect Leader’s expression, it’s the ability to detect faint cracks in the ecstasy of the moment.”

“Hm…”

“You may not have felt it as intensely as during your previous life’s divine perception, but transcending the sensory limits permitted to humans, reaching trans-consciousness and transcendental awareness. In other words, it’s an essential ability to become an absolute expert.”

“……!!”

I couldn’t help but excitedly exclaim, “So then, am I on the threshold of Absolute Realm…!!”

“No, not quite,” Lee Cheong-un firmly waved his hand.

“The Seventh Sensation itself is possessed by exceptional peak masters usually as a potential. It’s simply that few can recognize and utilize it. This was evident when the Sword Demon recognized the dangers of Fengshen War through the Seventh Sensation.”

“Ah.”

That did ring a bell. So while the Seventh Sensation is a prerequisite for the Absolute Realm, it is not proof that one has attained it. Nodding in understanding, Lee Cheong-un continued.

“Once you reach the Absolute Realm, honing this extraordinary Seventh Sensation will lead you to the level of Yeodong-bin’s Moon-Style Defense Technique.”

“The Moon-Style Defense Technique!”

An extraordinary sense that allows you to respond to all speeds without facing a surprise attack! Achieving that Moon-Style Defense Technique, which is theoretically invincible, was something I had only known Yeodong-bin to accomplish among the experts I was acquainted with. Upon expressing my admiration, Lee Cheong-un grimly remarked.

“… That Moon-Style Defense Technique’s [Eye] is not something a mere human can achieve. It’s quite literally a realm akin to life and death. Neither I nor the Sect Leader would stand a chance even with fifty years of dedication. It is indeed glorious.”

“I see.”

“What you’ve lacked until now is the perception and feeling that transcends ordinary humans. However, after long training and experiences, the Seventh Sensation has finally emerged, so mastering Sword Thunder should now come with ease.”

Crash!

After escorting Lee Cheong-un back, I returned to the Dragon King’s Valley. Upon my arrival, I found Dokgo Seong reading an old book in the temple. As I stepped into the room, he raised his hand.

“Stop. Let’s begin training later.”

“Yes.”

He read quietly for a while. While he finished his book, I stepped outside to meditate and relax. After some time, Dokgo Seong emerged from the room and posed a question.

“How much of the Thunder God Lineage’s sword techniques have you mastered?”

I recalled Lee Cheong-un’s advice.

‘Be honest about everything except related to your past life and the Obsidian.’

I shared my achievements with Dokgo Seong, and he seemed impressed.

“Indeed… Show me what you’ve got.”

Swish!

I smoothly demonstrated the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, the Thunder Dragon Sword, and the Thunder God Sword Dance, all flawlessly executed. It wasn’t my first time, and years of real combat had honed my skills, leaving no room for mistakes. As Dokgo Seong attentively watched my sword dance, he finally spoke.

“Excellent. You seem to have mastered it all. However, it appears your cultivation of Heart Lightning during the Thunder Dragon Sword technique is lacking, and you still seem a tad clumsy with the Thunder God Sword Dance. We’ll need to focus on those.”

“Thank you for your guidance.”

Since I was well-versed in it already, I didn’t feel anxious or in danger. Calmly continuing from here, a surge of excitement and confidence swelled within me, affirming that I could surely acquire Sword Thunder. Remembering something, I asked Dokgo Seong.

“What book were you reading earlier in the temple?”

Dokgo Seong replied, “I didn’t mention it was originally the property of Master Ha Taek of the Southern School.”

“Right.”

“Ha Taek was a disciple of the Sixth Patriarch, Hui Neng. Do you happen to know what kind of person he was in life?”

“I’m not sure.”

As I answered honestly, Dokgo Seong continued to explain.

“Ha Taek elevated the Southern School of Zen while deliberately belittling the Northern School’s prowess. He inflated his master’s achievements to become a figure akin to the Sixth Patriarch, despite having originally been a disciple of the Northern School. He was nothing but a traitorous scoundrel.”

“Ah!”

I was engaging in such a conversation with Dokgo Seong for the first time. Naturally, I was hearing the details about Ha Taek for the first time as well. My curiosity piqued, I asked.

“Is it true that Ha Taek was such a miserable character?”

“He was a scoundrel who, during the Wong Rebellion, amassed ill-gotten gains by selling passes to farmers seeking to dodge military service, then even sold that wealth to the imperial family.”

“… One cannot possibly call him a monk. The Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng is a well-known high priest among the common people.”

I candidly expressed my thoughts. At this, Dokgo Seong let out an amusing chuckle.

“If he’s not a monk, what is he?”

“A bad person.”

“Hahaha. Even I thought like you before coming to this temple.”

“Really?”

After a moment, Dokgo Seong stopped laughing and said, “Anyway, let’s train now. If you reach the Sword Thunder Realm, I’ll teach you something amusing as the Grandmaster’s disciple.”