Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 614 – Dark Heaven Village

Facing Zhuge Bu, I felt surprisingly calm, unlike before when I was overwhelmed by the weight of my inferiority. Back then, my skills were lacking, and I would tremble before his prowess, but now it’s a different story. After living through at least ten lifetimes, my skills have grown, and I feel I can definitely take him on.

“That guy has reached the peak of martial arts and mastered top-tier techniques.”

He’s an absolute genius who achieved in his youth what most people struggle a lifetime to attain, making him a figure of awe known as the Treasure of the Central Plains. Typically, I wouldn’t stand a chance against him, even if I had received the title of Dharma Guardian from the Thunder God lineage.

However – I already knew his weaknesses. Smirking, I pointed my sword at him and spoke, “Shall I take the first move? Or will you?”

“Hmph!”

Zhuge Bu made a somewhat sharp expression and raised his fingers to cast the Five Elements Technique, levitating it in the air. The five elemental essences buzzed and gathered into a sphere before quickly launching toward me.

Tat tat tat!

“Though small, they pack a deadly punch…”

I wielded my sword to deflect the Onmyoji attack, but I felt a heavy weight in my fingertips. Each tiny Elemental orb concentrated enough natural essence to kill a human instantly.

Swish!

I thought he might follow up with a barrage, but in the very next moment, Zhuge Bu used his Instantaneous Movement technique to dash away from me. He widened the gap between us instantly, clearly wary of engaging me in close quarters. Simultaneously, he conjured a barrier using his protective techniques around himself.

“Heh… As expected.”

Normally, I’d be awed by Zhuge Bu’s skill as he unleashed high-level techniques with such finesse, but I’ve come a long way. Recognizing the strange weaknesses hidden behind his flashy skills, I didn’t lose my composure and teased him, “What’s the matter? Don’t you want a fair fight?”

“Hmph! This is a duel I cannot lose. Why would I take unnecessary risks? You will ultimately fall victim to my skills.”

As he spoke, Zhuge Bu continued to prepare his flashy techniques. It seemed he was about to unleash a beautiful display of spells.

“Hmm, I see…”

I trailed off and suddenly activated my lightning technique, bursting forth with my Soul Removal Technique to charge at Zhuge Bu.

Slash!

“……!!”

Zhuge Bu seemed to react only when his barrier shattered in half against my sword strike, his flesh barely nicked. My speed was so overwhelming that even someone of Zhuge Bu’s caliber reacted too late.

He donned a face of astonishment, quickly channeling his Protection Energy to respond to my assault.

Asura Heaven Light Technique!

Being a peak expert, he was used to the intense qi, so my ambush didn’t yield the expected result, forcing me to retreat momentarily. As the defensive form of the Asura Heaven Light Technique enveloped his upper body, I thrust my sword toward his forehead.

Fwoosh!

Boom!

“Kugh!”

Even though I targeted a strong point in his defense, Zhuge Bu screamed in pain as blood splattered from his hands and wrists, sending him flying backward. Despite raising his Asura Heaven Light technique and inner power to the max, he failed to block a single one of my thrusts.

It wasn’t a grand technique; it was just a basic thrust from the Thunder God lineage, yet Zhuge Bu couldn’t stop it.

This clearly showed that my skills were several levels above his.

I smiled coldly at Zhuge Bu. “Is your martial prowess only at the level of a White Lotus Sect Elder?”

“What did you say?!”

“I’m afraid the leniency stops here. Take this!”

My sword suddenly ignited with fierce flames, enveloped in a thick aura of lightning. I aimed directly at him, channeling my focus to its peak.

Sword Thunder!

Given another ambush would likely yield no result, I fortified my attack with the strongest techniques I could deploy, recalling the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword Technique. While the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique could work, I felt far more comfortable with the Shadowless style.

Sword Control!

Swoosh!

The condensed lightning sword surged toward Zhuge Bu with considerable speed, far faster than before. This time it seemed to spell the end for him. Yet, appearing unfazed, he unfurled his defensive spell to block my strike.

Bzzzt!

“Ugh…”

But even with his protective barrier, my Sword Thunder’s overwhelming might looked like it was starting to daunt him. Sweat beaded on Zhuge Bu’s forehead as I prepared to unleash my inner power, channeling it in bursts.

“Ha!”

Boom, boom, boom!

My arms flared with burning qi, transforming them into what resembled the limbs of a giant, causing Zhuge Bu’s complexion to whiten.

He screamed in terror, “It can’t be!! Combining techniques while executing Sword Control…”

His shock stemmed from the depletion of inner power. Just using Sword Control is an exhausting endeavor, one that typically demands high stamina, and conventional Sword Controllers would find it challenging to multitask while executing such a style. Attempting to do so would quickly drain their energy, leaving their vitality all but spent.

But – not for me. I had pushed through the gauntlet of battles to gain an exceptional level of power. I felt my energy burning away, yet it was manageable.

With a blaze in my eyes, I yelled, “Eat this!”

Thunder God lineage!

Thunder God Fist!

Ultimate Strike!

Thunderclap Explosion!

Boom!

As I swung my Thunder God arm toward him, Zhuge Bu seemingly abandoned his defense, teleporting away just in time. However, at that moment, my lightning sword pierced through the acupuncture point in his arm, while followed swiftly thereafter by the Thunderclap Explosion’s blast of power grazing his side.

Splat!

“Ahhhhh!”

With the explosive force, blood sprayed from his torso as Zhuge Bu shrieked in shock. He staggered back, seemingly injured. But instead of ending him, he managed to escape further.

Flying through the air, I returned my sword to hand, muttering, “Looks like he’s going to play that card.”

I could almost predict his strategy. Sure enough, after a moment, dozens or even hundreds of talismans started fluttering around the dimly lit hall, forming a barrier.

I guessed he was determining his last play while cornered.

Fallen Soul Separation!

As countless talismans surrounded me, each radiated the power to extinguish souls! According to Mangnyang, this technique, the Fallen Soul Division, is one of the ultimate spells. If its full power was unleashed, mere physical defensive arts might offer no escape.

In the past, I couldn’t possibly have faced the Fallen Soul Separation; I could only run. While a considerable amount of energy is required to activate it, Zhuge Bu was equipped with the White Feather Fan, which would recharge his energy infinitely. Dealing with Zhuge Bu whilst he wielded that Fan was like facing calamity.

But I was ready for this scenario.

Good…

Whoosh!

I poured forth all my strength into the Divine Technique to evade his spell range, freeing myself from the clutches of his talismans. I then heard Zhuge Bu’s shocked voice echo from somewhere far off.

[What?!]

In an instant, I dodged over a hundred talismans, and from a distance, I spotted the brilliance of Fallen Soul Separation igniting with an explosion. Checking myself for any residual wounds, I quickly realized I hadn’t even grazed against it. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Heh, as expected, it’s hard to hit a moving target.”

At my current speed, anyone lacking the skills I possess would have no hope of evading the Fallen Soul separation. The technique’s unpredictable nature, its rapid activation, and its substantial min-range made it virtually inescapable for anyone without the level of proficiency I had.

But for me, it was nothing more than an avoidable attack, because I could casually shift over fifty talismans in a second.

Excited, I immediately initiated my secret art.

Soul Removal Technique!

Heavenly Light!

Whirl, whirl, whirl!

While far from mastering it like an Extreme Tiger, I had indeed fully mastered its principles and essential techniques. Using the Soul Removal’s Heavenly Light to create numerous clones that darted through the area, Zhuge Bu found himself at a loss as to where to deploy his spells.

I halted mid-practice and taunted him, “Is that all you’ve got? Good luck even trying to hit me now!”

As I mocked him, Zhuge Bu revealed himself about ten paces away. His caution regarding my speed was evident, and he knew they were merely clones. He stared at me in bewilderment.

“Who are you? You may call yourself a Half-Transition Master, but I’ve never encountered someone of your caliber. No one among the righteous sects comes close to your power!”

“Curious who I am, are you?”

Nodding vigorously, Zhuge Bu prompted me to respond.

“I am the Master of the White Lotus Sect!!”

Zhuge Bu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“No way!! Isn’t the Master of the White Lotus known to be Dokgo Uncheon?”

“Hmm…”

Grinning slightly, I noticed his complexion turn pale.

“Is it a pseudonym, Baek Woong…? Why would the Master of the White Lotus be doing this to me?!”

Huh?

He seemed to doubt my words, but he also appeared to believe them to a degree. Initially, my intention was to mock him with absurd claims, yet unexpectedly, there was some credence in his reaction. Not quite grasping why he was taking my nonsense seriously, I shrugged and replied.

“Isn’t it true that you attempted a human sacrifice inside the imperial palace, causing chaos? And your father, Zhuge Yulong, dared to align himself with the Old Ruler against heavenly law? Allowing that to continue would certainly bring disaster to the human world, and I’m here to stop it before it’s too late!”

“……!!”

Zhuge Bu stared at me with a ghostly pale complexion while tightly grinding his lips.

“Impressive… As expected of the Master of the White Lotus… You truly know everything.”

“Well, it’s just how it is.”

“If you aren’t the Master of the White Lotus, it’s improbable you could overwhelm me with mere martial arts…”

I snorted in disbelief.

“Hah! Really?”

His misplaced confidence baffled me. Zhuge Bu mistakenly believed my martial skills reflected my identity as the Master of the White Lotus, convinced that someone of my level simply couldn’t so easily best him.

But I had roamed freely across the world, facing the powerhouses from the Nine Great Sects, the reclusive experts of the Righteous Factions, and other formidable masters like the Dharma Guardian and Miyamoto Musashi.

From that experience, I found Zhuge Bu’s abilities mediocre at best. In terms of martial skills, he barely compared to an Elder of the Four Great Families or a minor figure in the hidden martial world. Drawing comparisons with the Elders of the Elder Council further diminished his standing, falling short of the top thirty among the hidden masters.

Moreover, his flaw lay here.

‘ While he can effectively wield both martial arts and techniques, they exist independently. He won’t ever reach a level of true strength.’

My confidence in challenging Zhuge Bu stemmed from this clarity of his weaknesses. Mastering both martial arts and techniques to perfection sounded impressive in theory, but he would always lag behind someone who fused them into an absolute realm. If either the Master of the White Lotus or Miyamoto Musashi were present, they’d surely slice through Zhuge Bu’s neck within ten seconds.

Besides, reaching the peak did not automatically grant him superiority over merely being skilled. Zhuge Bu relied on his Asura Heaven Light Technique to repel approaching foes while using flashy spells and talismans as his main course of attack. Given his martial arts relied solely on close-range techniques without support from his spells, the true power of his Asura Heaven Light Technique ultimately would become mere decoration against a legitimately skilled combatant.

Perhaps he had become complacent due to lacking a sense of urgency in improving his strength. After all, he wielded absolute power within the imperial palace, basked in wealth, honor, martial might, and stunning looks. He didn’t require any training against equally strong opponents. He had most likely never anticipated ever encountering a fight like this.

Our paths were different. I have always looked upward, striving to overcome stronger foes, while he had scaled his peak too quickly, opting to rest on his laurels. Had he combined the strengths of martial arts and techniques, he might have forged a new realm, perhaps even surpassing the absolute, yet he lacked the drive to push that envelope.

But rather than vocalize these observations, I simply smiled coldly and addressed Zhuge Bu.

“I could let you off, but…”

Zhuge Bu stiffened his expression. “What do you mean?”

“Did you learn that Asura Heaven Light Technique from your father, Zhuge Yulong?”

“……”

He hesitated briefly before replying, “I don’t know how you know the name of my martial arts, but this is an ultimate technique bestowed upon the imperial family. My father didn’t delve deeply into the Asura Heaven Light Technique.”

Is he prepared to speak the truth?

In fact, I had acquired information about the Asura Heaven Light Technique long ago when Zhuge Sa captured Zhuge Bu and tortured him into revealing secrets. Now, I merely wanted to test if he would genuinely tell me what I already knew. I mentioned casually.

“I have heard that the sword technique that Zhuge Yulong bears is the world’s finest martial art. Are you aware of its origin?”

“The Gongsun Sword Technique.”

Zhuge Bu seemed about to explain further when I noticed an awkwardly long silence stretching on. Suddenly, I realized…

Bang!

Before I knew it, Zhuge Bu vanished, and countless surprise attacks bombarded me. Talismans, spells, and all sorts of techniques came raining down. I hastily deployed my Protective Energy, managing to stay unscathed, but Zhuge Bu had already disappeared.

Zhuge Bu was still determined, pretending to discuss while waiting for a chance to strike. Thanks to my swift reflexes, I evaded the onslaught, but had I hesitated even briefly, it could have resulted in disaster. I began to see the crux of Zhuge Bu’s strategy.

‘ He’s hiding within the spatial realm, trying to sap my strength.’

It was a reasonable tactic. If he used his stealth techniques to harass me with sudden ambushes, I would find it nearly impossible to respond. Sure, I could track him, but pinpointing his hidden locations required substantial concentration. His plan likely involved draining my stamina and inner power to win in a drawn-out fight.

Well, if that’s the case, then there’s nothing to be done.

I’d have to play along with his tempo!

Time passed, about thirteen days and nights.

Boom!

“Ugh… huff…”

I delivered a swift punch to Zhuge Bu’s solar plexus, causing him to double over. He was so drained he could no longer muster the strength for his protective techniques, sending him retching to the ground.

Zhuge Bu lay collapsed, groaning weakly, “How… How on earth… after thirteen days and nights… could you evade all my strikes… Your strength and stamina are…!”

I grasped his hair, laughing at him.

“I’ve got stamina to spare!”

That was the truth.

Zhuge Bu had hoped to land a telling blow while I was distracted, but I had grown accustomed to operating in a frenzied state, having gone without food or sleep. Thus, while I continued to pursue him relentlessly over the thirteen days, exhausting Zhuge Bu entirely led to his collapse.

He may have been a skilled warrior, but compared to me, he was insignificant.

Bang, bang!

I smashed Zhuge Bu’s face into the ground repeatedly, finally rendering him unconscious. I then yelled into the void, “Prophet! I’ve won!”

Swish!

Moments later, the spatial realm dissipated, revealing the Grand Temple of Astana. The Prophet regarded me judgmentally with a distant gaze.

[Truly remarkable stamina… But of course… attaining such power is only granted to those of your kind…]

“Now, this guy’s my slave, right?”

[Hmm… not quite.]

“What?!”

What was he on about now?

Tensed, I prepared for a potential confrontation with the Prophet after my exhausting battle with Zhuge Bu.

After a short moment, the Prophet slowly extended a tendril resembling a hand toward me and stated, [The commission…]

“……!”

I was flabbergasted, but after exhausting so much energy in my brawl, I had no energy left to argue. I reluctantly withdrew several stalks of Sacred Lotus and handed them over, which seemed to satisfy him.

[Baek Woong has triumphed in the duel. Henceforth, Zhuge Bu shall remain my eternal servant, bound to you by my name, thus recognized… This great contract shall be upheld so long as my authority exists… and with the backing of the allied tribes of the Seungha family and all my influence, should he attempt flight or rebellion, I shall intervene with all my strength to retrieve and suppress him.]

“Uh, okay…”

It sounded convincing enough, but I was in too dazed a state to feel grateful. I already felt mentally drained from dealing with the pesky Prophet. One day, I would make sure to shred that creature’s tendrils to pieces.

Instead, I fixed a venomous glare at the now limp Zhuge Bu.

‘ I will certainly reclaim what’s mine!’

This guy is going to pay dearly for the trouble he caused me!