Reincarnation Sword God

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Dark Heaven Village

“The final seal!”

That was something I had already guessed. The power I used to break the seal of Cheon Gong-pyo untangled about 80% of the tightly bound seal, but the remaining 20% was sealed so firmly that I couldn’t release it carelessly. It must have been the “real seal” that the Heavenly Ruler of Tai Xu exerted to seal the master of the White Lotus Sect, Cheon Gong-pyo.

And because of that seal, even while Cheon Gong-pyo acted like he wanted to kill me, he had no choice but to comply with my wishes. He boasted that it would naturally be undone over time, but if that were the case, there would be no need for him to adhere to my demands.

“I can’t release it!”

The effort to do so would exceed at least 20 years’ worth of Yin Spirit Power. Moreover, it was uncertain whether Cheon Gong-pyo would actually help me if I released it. The overwhelming likelihood was that instead of fighting the six Dharma Guardians, he would just abandon me and return to the real world alone. After calculating everything, I spoke resolutely.

“Absolutely impossible! Who would benefit from that?”

I had already expended quite a bit of Yin Spirit Power. Most of what I gained from this round had gone into unsealing Cheon Gong-pyo, meaning I had effectively lost a life. If I further spent more than 20 years’ worth of Yin Spirit Power, it would feel like throwing away everything I had worked for. I’d rather commit suicide and start my next reincarnation.

Unlike the one-time-use spells of the Evil Spirit, Yin Spirit Power accumulated over a lifetime. In a sense, it was much more precious than the Evil Spirit’s spells, so I couldn’t recklessly expend it any longer.

When I firmly declined, Cheon Gong-pyo spoke.

[Heh, then what do you plan to do in this situation?]

“……”

[By the way, I’m not going to use the Ruyi Staff’s self-manipulation ability until you agree to my request.]

Should I commit suicide?

Even if I was at a safe distance of several tens of miles, considering the divine abilities of the Dharma Guardians, it was only a matter of time before they would catch up. And at the same time, I had no proper way to escape.

‘But it feels a bit wasteful to commit suicide…’

Finding out the exact location of Tai Xu was a significant achievement, but would dying actually leave me with anything?

Shouldn’t I at least accomplish returning to the real world to make it worth it?

While I was hesitating, Cheon Gong-pyo spoke.

[I promise. If you release my seal, I will stop those guys for you. So…]

“I can’t trust your promises.”

[What?]

“I’ll deal with it first and then we can talk!”

Reluctantly, I resolved to use my last resort. Given how far I had been pushed, it was likely permissible.

‘I never thought I’d use it to escape instead of in battle.’

I took the wooden armor from my side and commanded Zhuge Bu.

“Zhuge Bu! Use the technique of Immortal Summoning and share your life force with me!”

“Got it.”

Wooong!

As Zhuge Bu cast the spell, white rings appeared above our foreheads and slowly seeped into our bodies. Simultaneously, I felt my vitality plummeting and my body becoming significantly heavier, while Zhuge Bu seemed to experience the same.

Watching from the side, Cheon Gong-pyo smiled slyly.

[Interesting idea. Is this technique from the Grand Sorcerer of the future? But I wonder just how much stress the human body can withstand with that load.]

“Shut up…”

[The spell cannot be established unless both the caster and recipient have achieved the level of an Expert.]

As I expected, that guy seemed to have realized the true value of this spell with his chaotic talents. My body was under tremendous strain, and my head felt like it might burst, but I forced myself to push through.

Creak, creak…

My joints ached and creaked, but gradually I began to feel vitality returning. It was proof that my body was starting to adapt to the technique of Immortal Summoning.

‘I can only use it once.’

But that was enough.

I pinpointed a crucial acupoint in Zhuge Bu’s body, drawing strength from it to stabilize our bodies. After taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes wide and pulled out the golden needle from my robe.

Crash!

The techniques known only to the clan leader and direct descendants, the worst secret technique of the Hua Clan, was about to unfold.

“I’ll execute Great Destruction!”

The light of annihilation!

Kugugugung!!

In the next moment, I launched my body into the air with Zhuge Bu, expending all my inner power to open all eight gates of my body. Both my body and Zhuge Bu’s were in a state of Great Destruction, and our physical abilities surged explosively. I felt the divine-like power flowing through every part of me.

‘Indeed, I’ve gotten dozens of times stronger than before.’

The effect of Great Destruction varies based on the user’s abilities. Having significantly increased my power compared to my previous Peak Expert level meant that the effects would likewise be magnified. I gathered all my strength and shouted.

“Follow me!!”

Boom!

The moment I stomped on the ground, I realized I was moving at an insane speed, surpassing times I’d never reached before when stretching the Ruyi Staff.

Step by step!

With a single stride, I jumped over three mountain peaks. I had long surpassed the speed of sound, reaching some point far beyond dozens of times that. With this acceleration, I could create storms merely through my movements.

Crash!

I could feel Zhuge Bu following closely beside me. I was running like a madman, utilizing Great Destruction, pondering.

‘What should I do when I reach the sea?’

I’ll deal with that later.

For now, I decided it was best to keep running and to give it my all in this situation.

“Uaaah!!”

Crash!

Whenever I spotted a hill or cliff, I barreled through without avoiding it and crashed head-on. My body was stronger, so I smashed through the cliff as I continued to run relentlessly.

Bam, bam, bam!

With each step I took, explosive sounds echoed. As I accelerated to a speed that was absolutely impossible for any living being, I felt my energy deplete rapidly. However, just as my eight gates were about to close, the spell activated.

Life Force Sharing!

At that moment, the power from Zhuge Bu’s body flowed into me, allowing me to maintain the state of Great Destruction. I still felt an abundance of energy as I sprinted furiously.

How long had I been running?

Before I knew it, I had sprinted thousands of miles and found myself somewhere unexpected. That time felt like just a moment, and I slowly started to feel the technique unravel, collapsing almost as if I had fainted.

Thud.

‘It’s the seaside…’

Thankfully, I had not gone beyond it.

So, with just the one use of Great Destruction, it meant I had crossed through this Dark Heaven Village?

As I felt my gates slowly and steadily close, I gasped for breath. Zhuge Bu was resting beside me, and Cheon Gong-pyo spoke with interest.

[Indeed. Did you creatively apply the limited immortality technique and Life Force Sharing to maintain the ultra-enhanced technique that would ordinarily result in death? Very inventive.]

“……”

[The meaning of that spell lies in extending the duration of the enhanced technique.]

“I know you’re smart, so just let me rest a bit…”

I sighed. Everything Cheon Gong-pyo said was true.

That’s right.

A spell that temporarily grants immortality!

And Life Force Sharing!

By utilizing both high-level techniques together, it was possible to elevate Great Destruction, which usually lasts only a brief moment and leads to certain death when used, to a true secret technique. The Immortal Summoning spell made the body temporarily immortal for a short time, enhancing the duration of Great Destruction while minimizing the risk of fainting by sharing life with the Peak Master, Zhuge Bu. When two life forces share, the consumption rate of Great Destruction decreases significantly.

Of course, executing these two upper-level techniques simultaneously was something only a top-level sorcerer could accomplish, making it impossible for me to do it alone at this point. However, I resolved that issue by having Zhuge Bu act as a puppet to cast it instead.

The creator of this technique was Zhuge Sa. Zhuge Sa felt it was a waste to leave Great Destruction as merely a self-destruct mode and sought to complete it at any cost, resulting in this bizarre composite technique based on the premise of [Zhuge Bu as a puppet].

Thus, I succeeded in extending the duration of Great Destruction from a brief moment to a full lifetime, essentially creating another killer technique to deal with formidable opponents during emergencies.

‘I initially planned to use this to assassinate the Master of the White Lotus Sect… but here I am using it to escape.’

Zhuge Sa’s initial suggestion was for both Zhuge Bu and me to simultaneously unleash Great Destruction to amplify our powers, with me pressuring the leader in the front while Zhuge Bu executed a joint attack.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been utterly impossible to defeat the leader with just the two of us. Still, amplifying our power more than tenfold with Great Destruction changed the story. At that level of power, defeating the initial leader would be more than manageable. Even with a Dharma Guardian beside him, I felt confident we could take care of them both.

There was a reason we had to go alone. Using Great Destruction meant that I would hardly be able to utilize techniques and would be highly likely to swing my immense power indiscriminately, making it hard to distinguish allies from enemies. They would likely just get in the way.

However, given how tangled the situation had become, I now had to use this intricate technique merely to escape from the Dharma Guardians. Even so, having run across the continent within a single moment was quite an impressive feat.

While I was resting, Cheon Gong-pyo spoke in a peculiar tone.

[So that brainwashed puppet isn’t particularly important, huh?]

“What are you talking about?”

[That spell might seem complete at a glance, but it incurs tremendous disadvantages on the caster. By casting that spell, the caster’s lifespan has probably been cut by 20 years.]

“……”

I didn’t respond. But he was right on target.

‘The reason I can’t ask my companions to extend Great Destruction…’

At first glance, it seemed perfect to extend Great Destruction using the two upper-level techniques, but it wasn’t that simple. Balancing the sharing of life to maintain immortality while opening the eight gates with Great Destruction caused the life force of the caster to diminish greatly. As a result, just as Cheon Gong-pyo mentioned, Zhuge Bu would lose 20 years of his life, something reserved for spells referred to as forbidden techniques.

That’s right—this was not a normal spell; it was a forbidden technique.

That’s why there was a contradiction in having to impose such a burden on someone whom I didn’t even consider a comrade. I couldn’t muster the nerve to ask Mangnyang or Cheon Woo-jin to cast this spell for me. Of course, they might agree, but to ask them to expend a once-in-a-lifetime life essence was something I couldn’t bring myself to say.

[So is that guy someone you hate enough to kill?]

Cheon Gong-pyo’s words pricked my conscience.

I couldn’t definitively answer whether Zhuge Bu had done something so wrong.

In a way, I was also using Zhuge Bu for convenience, but as I hesitated, I answered.

“… This guy has chosen the unjust side, knowing that ordinary humans would be tormented. He didn’t care an ounce for others’ emotions. He even indirectly aided in human sacrifices.”

[That sounds like an excuse. Heh… Is there really a reason for him to be controlled as a puppet just because of those selfish actions? That seems to be a different issue altogether.]

“……”

[Isn’t it the Great Evil oppressing the Minor Evil?]

I growled in response.

“Don’t talk nonsense just because your mouth is free. There are circumstances!”

Cheon Gong-pyo laughed.

[In the end, you judge good and evil based on your own criteria, huh? Why not just fully embrace the principle of survival of the fittest?]

“Are you calling me a hypocrite?”

[If everyone accepted the good you advocate, I’d be in the wrong, right?]

“Damn it.”

I shook my head. Grappling with Cheon Gong-pyo’s words would only make my head more complicated.

‘This isn’t the time for such debates.’

I wasn’t necessarily right, but I could tell he was just trying to verbally torture me. My experience with Zhuge Sa allowed me to quickly regain my composure.

“Cheon Gong-pyo, let’s make a deal.”

[What kind of deal?]

“I can’t release the final seal with my Yin Spirit Power. This power is precious to me, and I can’t afford to expend any more. But if I return to the real world, there might be a way to unseal it…”

[So you mean you will help me until then?]

“Exactly.”

At that, Cheon Gong-pyo sneered.

[Hmph! This time around, I can’t trust you. What if you use me to go back to the real world and then seal me with an even stronger seal?]

“……”

[I will not give up on my initial conditions. If you don’t release the seal, I won’t help you at all.]

It was then.

Whoosh!!

The spirit of the Fire Dragon Incarnate emerged from the Fire Dragon Sword. She crossed her arms and spoke.

[Master of the White Lotus Sect, Cheon Gong-pyo. If you remain stubborn, ultimately, we will only end up captured by the Dharma Guardians and become slaves to Changhil. You must be aware of this.]

Cheon Gong-pyo seemed displeased with the Fire Dragon Incarnate and furrowed his brows.

[Don’t act all high and mighty. Are you that concerned about it?]

[Why create tension when there’s a way for all of us to survive?]

[Heh heh! Then why don’t you prove it? Go ahead and say that you will uphold your promise with your very existence.]

Cheon Gong-pyo scoffed derisively.

[You want us to trust you when you can’t even make that kind of promise? How ridiculous.]

[What are you trying to do?]

[Release my seal. I’ve been saying this since earlier.]

The atmosphere turned deadly.

It seemed Cheon Gong-pyo was unwilling to compromise on unsealing.

If I used my power against his seal, the chances of betrayal would skyrocket, putting me in a deadlock.

After thinking for a while, I finally made up my mind.

“Fine. I give up on the seal and all of that.”

[What?]

I pulled out the Water Element of Seven Luminaries from my side and stated.

“Since this is Dark Heaven Village, I’ll offer this to the [Old Ruler] nearby and ask to be sent back to the real world. That would be the easiest method, right?”

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