Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 561 – Dark Heaven Village

I returned to Jangryeong Valley and talked to Zhuge Sa about the Primordial Void and Chaos. Zhuge Sa responded, “That means you ultimately need to attain the Primordial Spirit to reach the divine realm.”
“I think so.”
The Primordial Spirit was a power drawn from the Throne of Chaos. In fact, it wasn’t martial arts but rather a high-level sorcery and demonic technique. To harness the power of chaos, the Primordial Spirit was indeed the best method. Zhuge Sa pondered for a moment before saying,
“Even so, refrain from obtaining the Primordial Spirit for now.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not sure if the Golden Seal would mean anything to you, but that is first and foremost a [contract]. You can’t proceed without knowing the exact contract details and the circumstances around it. You need to hear the elaborate story from the Demon Sorcerer, the Master of the White Lotus Sect himself.”
“Got it.”
After all, both the Primordial Spirit and Heavenly Spirit Pill were problematic, so I had no plans to touch them right away. I was too busy solidifying my current power and training direction. Zhuge Sa continued,
“Lee Cheong-un is looking for you. Go to him right away.”
I relayed the information I learned from Master Mangnyang to Lee Cheong-un. He sighed heavily, saying,
“I see! The Sect Leader was indeed treading on such an extraordinary level.”
“The question is how strong the current Sect Leader is…” I trailed off. Lee Cheong-un responded with a bitter smile,
“Haha, my martial arts accomplishments have been completely passed on to the Sect Leader, so perhaps the Sect Leader boasts the strongest record in your entire past life. What a nuisance…”
“Oh, no.”
I couldn’t help but stammer. While it was great to have Lee Cheong-un, the peerless master, as my mentor to elevate my level, it also meant that the Master of the White Lotus Sect was growing stronger too, creating a contradiction. I could not even tell if we’d be able to stop the White Lotus Sect with just our strength.
Lee Cheong-un said,
“Hmm, if that theory about the Primordial Void is correct… somehow I might also be stepping into that realm.”
“What?”
“When I unfold the Thunder Spirit Technique to its ultimate form, I sense something during that brief moment when the Thunder Spirit reaches its maximum speed. A very minute something seems to blend into the lightning. I used to think it was my inexperience, but…”
As Lee Cheong-un was deep in thought, he continued,
“How convenient! Baek Woong, let’s go see Jin So-cheong.”
“Wasn’t he in closed room training?”
“He’s the best one to discuss this dilemma with now. You might gain something by going with me.”
I followed Lee Cheong-un to a low mountain about ten li away from Jangryeong Valley. Jin So-cheong was reportedly staying alone in the mountains as part of his closed room training. When we reached the mountain entrance, Jin So-cheong was waiting for us, as if he had anticipated our arrival.
“Grand Master. And Baek Woong… you’ve come.”
“Jin So-cheong. How is your training going?”
“I’m just reflecting on what I have.”
Seeing Jin So-cheong’s aura seemed weaker than before raised suspicions in me.
‘Huh? Why does he seem weaker than me…?’
He felt considerably weaker than when I first met him, as if he had regressed. The energy emanating from both inside and outside of him felt so feeble that he appeared almost ordinary, closer to the state of nothingness than the realm of returning to simplicity.
We sat in a simple dwelling that Jin So-cheong had constructed for his closed room training. After Lee Cheong-un conveyed the information I had gathered about Chaos and the Primordial Void, Jin So-cheong listened silently. After finishing his explanation, Lee Cheong-un calmly addressed Jin So-cheong,
“When I elevate the Thunder Spirit Technique to the point where the Thunder Soul exhibits its peak speed, I transcend a momentary barrier and feel something. Don’t you think what you’re sensing is the Primordial Void?”
“……”
Jin So-cheong was deep in thought, staring at the teacup for quite some time. Then he spoke,
“Not enough. I probably haven’t arrived at it in pure terms.”
“Is that so?”
“However, I believe what the Grand Master said is not wrong. I just think acceleration may be lacking.”
“Ha ha. That’s quite an interesting opinion.”
Lee Cheong-un burst into laughter.
I struggled to follow the conversation and asked Jin So-cheong,
“What do you mean by acceleration? Please explain.”
“The level of obtaining the Thunder Spirit from the intersection of heaven and earth is the Thunder Spirit Technique. Naturally, if the essence of nature is chaos, then the Thunder Spirit Technique also has the potential to reach chaos. However, at the speed we know of the Thunder Spirit Technique, we cannot completely obliterate forms and reach the extreme.”

“Hmm…”
I was momentarily puzzled by Jin So-cheong’s words, but soon grasped what he meant.
“So, if the Thunder Spirit Technique becomes faster, it could achieve the realm of fusion in the Thunder God lineage, right?”
“That seems to be the case.”
“……”
Gazing at Jin So-cheong, a thought crossed my mind, and I asked him,
“Jin So-cheong, did you… reach the Absolute Realm?”
Jin So-cheong nodded,
“Not long ago.”
“……!!”
I knew it!
The reason Lee Cheong-un came to ask Jin So-cheong for insight was not for any other reason—it was because Jin So-cheong, being in the Absolute Realm, could exchange insights at an equal level. Realizing my prediction was correct, I looked at Lee Cheong-un,
“Isn’t it quite difficult to transition from the peak expert stage to the Absolute Realm?”
Lee Cheong-un smiled bitterly,
“Jin So-cheong has been in the Absolute Realm for quite a while. He was in that state even before entering closed room training. I apologize for not mentioning it until now.”
“Why have you kept this from me…”
“Because of your sensitivity.”
After taking a sip of tea, Lee Cheong-un continued,
“Honestly, even in the millennia of history of the Thunder God lineage, I would call Jin So-cheong the greatest genius I have ever seen. I genuinely believe he’s impressive, surpassing even me. Witnessing such a scene, where someone like him effortlessly breaks through the wall of the Absolute Realm, made me hesitant to tell you. You might feel emptiness or deprivation even though you’ve benefited from his martial arts cultivation.”
“……”
“A genius or prodigy like Jin So-cheong evokes defeatism. Simply informing you about his accomplishments would only deepen feelings of emptiness and deprivation, wouldn’t it? I intended to keep it hidden until you fully grasped the realm of the Art of Marvel.”
“I see…”
“However, the fusion of chaos and the Primordial Void is too immense an insight. It would be nonsensical to share such a thing without a reborn person like you participating, hence the need to bring you here.”
I understood Lee Cheong-un’s consideration. Indeed, there had been many times when Jin So-cheong’s terrifying talent ignited my inferiority complex. My consolation had been that Jin So-cheong could not easily break through the Absolute Realm, but that reassurance had now lost its meaning.
Jin So-cheong waved his hand,
“That’s too much praise. For now, it’s best to focus on what’s in front of us.”
“Right. So, do you know how to further accelerate the Thunder Spirit Technique?”
“I think there are too few clues right now. The Thunder Spirit Technique, which has been developed over generations, cannot be improved overnight. It would require at least a few years.”
Assertively stating this, Jin So-cheong added,
“At present, we only know the concept of fusion. We need someone with direct experiences of handling chaos.”
Lee Cheong-un let out a low murmur.
“Are you saying we need the Sect Leader’s help?”
“Yes. I also believe masters who have reached the Absolute Realm should gather to discuss.”
“Hahaha!”
Lee Cheong-un laughed heartily. He seemed genuinely pleased.
“A master in the Absolute Realm is something that rarely appears in the history of the martial world, maybe just once every hundred years… and yet here we are today, with so many of them! To consider a discussion amongst those in the Absolute Realm…”
He turned to me, continuing,
“Baek Woong, hurry and negotiate with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. You must acquire the enlightenment of chaos from him.”
“Are you serious?”
I looked at Lee Cheong-un with a doubtful expression. I hadn’t expected him to bring this up first.
“With the grudge between you and the Thunder God lineage, it feels unreasonable for me to negotiate with them.”
Lee Cheong-un responded self-deprecatingly,
“Anyway, my vendetta is of this life. Compared to your brutal destiny of battling the evil Absolute Deity as a reborn person, it doesn’t compare. Besides, I originally died by losing to the Sect Leader, so I lost my right to take revenge anyway.”
“That’s…”
“The ideology of the Thunder God lineage is self-strengthening dominance. With my inability to uphold this ideology, I’ve lost some qualification as the Thunder God lineage Grand Master.”
“……”
“So, don’t think of my position as someone who died regrettably. The important part is you’re one of us in the Thunder God lineage and might be our hope to fulfill our desires. Just that is enough for me to feel grateful to you, Baek Woong. I will support your every decision as a Thunder God lineage Grand Master.”
“… understood.”
I was inwardly moved by Lee Cheong-un’s magnanimity. Usually, the one who would have the greatest grudge against the Master of the White Lotus Sect, who had purged and murdered him, would be Lee Cheong-un. However, he had set aside all that resentment, affirmatively deciding to act just for my sake. Rationally, it was the right move, but for the person involved to truly change their mind is never an easy task.
I began to analyze the possibilities calmly in my mind.
‘Discussing negotiation with the Sect Leader…’
It was of course feasible. If I approached the Master of the White Lotus Sect with the most amicable attitude possible, a tight alliance could be formed. Additionally, since my identity wasn’t publicly known, I could potentially join as a disciple of the Sect Leader. I could even undertake the risky venture of giving the Sect Leader obsidian to make him an ally.
In any case, thanks to all the efforts Zhuge Sa and Master Mangnyang had made, I found myself in a good position with many options.
Fusion of chaos and the Primordial Void!
What kind of power would that initial form bring me?
Lee Cheong-un said,
“But you need to train more before proceeding with that negotiation. You still have many deficiencies in terms of martial arts…”
“That’s true. Then I’ll work on the Art of Marvel a bit more…”
“No. That area is sufficient now. It would require more time to refine, but you’ve made significant progress in that regard. From now on, I plan to teach you the methods of fist techniques.”
“Fist techniques!”
“Among sword, fist, and spear, your understanding of fist techniques is the weakest.”
“I see.”
I felt my level of martial arts cultivation had matured another step. If Lee Cheong-un stated that my grasp of the Art of Marvel was sufficient, it meant that the connected application of my Thunder God lineage martial arts had greatly improved. While I was feeling pleased about this, Lee Cheong-un rose from his seat and spoke,
“We should gather the masters of the scattered Thunder God lineage fist techniques now.”
“Understood.”
“Before that, since we’ve met Jin So-cheong, let’s have a sparring session.”
“Spar?”
“Of course! It’s a twofold gain for having come all the way here.”
Lee Cheong-un chuckled.
“By the way, the Absolute Realm that Jin So-cheong has reached isn’t the Thunder Spirit Technique. He’s opened a different field, so you should feel it directly. It will surely be a significant experience for you to spar with someone in the Absolute Realm besides me.”
“Are you… serious?”
“Really. I can’t say it’s superior to the Thunder Spirit Technique, but he’s opened up a new realm.”
Surprised, I looked at Jin So-cheong, who calmly responded,
“Nothing remarkable. Though the Grand Master has raised me, I am still only at the threshold of the Absolute Realm, so I cannot precisely name this state. I have not yet reached the level of Lee Cheong-un.”
Lee Cheong-un gave a strange smile.
“Haha, ‘right now’ that’s how it is. But soon you may surpass me.”
Jin So-cheong did not answer. It was an unspoken affirmation.
“……”
I felt no jealousy or despair. Surely, those feelings would have passed long ago. Instead, what I felt was a profound sense of awe.
‘Incredible.’
Pure admiration filled my heart, and a tiny sense of gratitude circulated within me.
‘How fortunate I am to live in the same era as a genius like that.’
In this bright era where geniuses and masters gather, and amidst the intersection of myths and civilizations, isn’t it my luck to be alive in such a time? Even if the world is vast, I felt that a genius like Jin So-cheong would be a rare incomparability, calming my heart instead.
Walking towards Jin So-cheong to engage in a spar, words of Master Mangnyang echoed in my mind.
[Do not hold back in sharing insights and teachings! And it’s best to increase your companions as much as possible. This principle should be maintained in your future lives.]
[If your goal is personal advancement, you may not need obsidian. However, you might have to gather the Law of Cause and Effect to fight a divine being. If that’s the case, do not hesitate to do good for your companions.]
[If someone betrays you, it might bring you benefits instead. Just don’t keep that person as a companion going forward.]
[Right now, we absolutely need power. Until we gather that power, do not shy away from any means.]
Master Mangnyang’s words were correct. If I had held back on sharing insights and teachings, I wouldn’t have gained this opportunity to spar with a peerless master like Jin So-cheong at such a rapid pace. If I only stayed secluded in the mountains practicing, I would not have gained even a fraction of my current growth. I had died in my first life, trying to become a master by training in solitude, and I understood that fact all too well.
‘I must utilize the talents of others.’
As someone without talent, I couldn’t create that talent on my own. I had tried to grow through the blessings of Zhongli Quan, but it proved impossible. Therefore, I needed to wield the talents of others from behind the scenes, nurturing them to indirectly grow myself. It might seem frustrating not being able to become the strongest on my own, yet this was the method a common talent could use to resist against fate.
What was required now was not inferiority.
I should press forward, wielding humility as my weapon.
Because someday, as the reborn, I would have my victory. For that reason, I could endure any immediate grievances or feelings of inferiority.
What humans need for growth is communication!
Gripping the stance of the Thunder God lineage’s sword technique, I declared the start of our spar with Jin So-cheong,
“I’ll attack first.”
“Come at me.”
Those who reject interaction with others will never grow.