Reincarnation Sword God

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Dark Heaven Village

After returning to the surface with Cheon Woo-jin, I retrieved Jin So-cheong from the wooden armor. Time had barely passed for Jin So-cheong, who remained in a comatose state.

‘The Demon King said he would awaken within 100 days, but…’

Jin So-cheong was also one of our crucial forces right now. Moreover, with the days dwindling until Cheon Gong-pyo’s arrival, we couldn’t just wait idly. Additionally, we had pressing matters such as the return of Amatsukami and the rescue of Mangnyang and the Zhuge Clan that needed swift resolution. I turned to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens.

“Is there any way to quickly recover Jin So-cheong?”

[It’s not that there isn’t, but hastily applying external force while his body is trying to return to its original state could produce side effects on his body or mind.]

Cheon Woo-jin chimed in from the side.

“I feel the same way. It would be better to stabilize him with medical techniques.”

“Medical techniques?”

“Techniques originate from Fuxi’s power and stem from chaos. However, the foundation that Jin So-cheong relies on is Taheo, which is the opposite. The Qi derived from Taheo means trying to heal him with recovery techniques could clash with his internal recuperative powers and cause side effects. Medical techniques, on the other hand, are probably the best way to fine-tune the human body and Qi, right?”

“Hmm… That makes sense.”

“Recovering him through medical techniques would be the most stable approach.”

I nodded at Cheon Woo-jin’s words. Until now, I hadn’t given it much thought, but with the confirmed correlation between chaos and Taheo, medical techniques would undoubtedly hold a significant position. It’s a technique that could recover those who handle martial power without relying on the chaotic force.

“Then let’s seek out the Five Great Physicians.”

“Who are we looking for?”

“Hmm…”

The easiest person to ask would be Kang Jeon-gil, the First of Henan who used to be a guest fighter at the Shadowless Gate. However, he had gone missing along with the Shadowless Gate.

As I pondered, Seo Mun-hye spoke beside me.

“The most skilled one would likely be Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the Heavenly Doctor.”

“I know that, but he was following the Master and now that the White Lotus Sect has disbanded, I can’t locate him.”

I thought for a moment before speaking.

“It would be best to find Medicine King Hwangbo Yun.”

Truth be told, I wanted to seek out Hwa Seong-myeong, my former medical teacher. However, Hwa Seong-myeong was under the protection of Jeong Cheol-wook, a powerful official in Goryeo, and that place was within the Twelve Joules’ influence. Since the Twelve Joules hadn’t entirely lost their power yet, heading toward Hwa Seong-myeong recklessly could reveal my movements to them.

Additionally, it wouldn’t do to seek out Sangwan Hyuk. His skills were well-rounded in all medical techniques, but he was a Demon Sorcerer and the leader of the Sangwan clan. Therefore, he was closely associated with Sang Gwanwna of the Eight Parts of the Divine.

For now, Medicine King Hwangbo Yun was relatively safe as he was an ally linked to the Han Clan and connected to the Fire Spirit Techniques.

Woosh!

We headed to Luoyang, where the Han Clan resided. Observing the atmosphere in Luoyang, it was clear things had changed significantly from five years ago. Seo Mun-hye remarked in wonder.

“What’s that?”

The official road was meticulously clean, and the architectural style of the buildings had changed in peculiar ways. People were riding on something clattering made of iron. While it was clumsy compared to carts, it was obvious it moved solely on mechanical power without relying on the strength of horses or creatures.

Furthermore, tall structures were being erected everywhere. It wasn’t a pavilion, but they stood tall like city gates, if not more. The protruding metal pipes and steams coming out were striking.

Boom—

But that wasn’t what was important. Our eyes were drawn to the sky over Luoyang, where a large airship was emitting smoke. Shaped round, it had a part visible where people controlled it. The words “Long Live the Great Ming” were inscribed on the outer surface of the airship.

I found myself mumbling in surprise.

“An airship?”

“Baek Woong, do you know what that is?”

“……”

I did know.

That was a piece of knowledge learned from the Zhuge Clan and a type of magical technology that was already developing in the West. The principle of the apparatus was to fill a bag with a gas lighter than air to float it, so it wasn’t an astounding advancement in civilization. The issue was that it wasn’t just a simple device; it appeared to be a fully-fledged airship, equipped with propulsion and steering systems, with proper controls and navigational systems.

‘… This is unbelievable.’

In the Western territories, such airships were already practical, and naturally, they’d be seen in the British Empire, but their technology was advancing too swiftly. This should not have appeared in the Ming Dynasty yet.

And it had only been five years!

Had technology progressed enough to create airships in that time span? It was impossible, especially since they hadn’t even fully grasped the hand cannon yet! As I grew confused, Cheon Woo-jin crossed his arms and said.

“I can roughly guess what happened.”

“Cheon Woo-jin. Do you understand what’s going on?”

“In that case, contacting Medicine King Hwangbo Yun might be risky. For now, let’s retreat and scout Luoyang with my Illusion Techniques.”

“Sounds good. Let’s do that.”

I readily accepted Cheon Woo-jin’s suggestion. Just as he said, Luoyang felt oddly like an enchanting dragon’s lair.

We moved out of Luoyang and headed toward Mangnyang’s village. Upon entering the village, I expected Master Mangnyang to speak to me, but surprisingly, he didn’t.

When I tilted my head in confusion, Cheon Woo-jin said.

“It seems my Master wishes for you to understand the current situation in the Central Plains more before he speaks. Wait until my spirit puppet gathers information from Luoyang.”

“Got it.”

We rested for about half a day in the thatched house where Cheon Woo-jin used to live. Enjoying tea and rice he brought, it felt good to relax. Meanwhile, Seo Mun-hye went to wash in a nearby valley. After a while, as we sat in the room, Cheon Woo-jin entered.

“The decisive battle in the Divine City seems to have drastically changed the world more than we anticipated.”

“Cheon Woo-jin, have you learned something?”

“Hmm…”

Cheon Woo-jin smirked then replied.

“It appears that the force controlling the Imperial Palace has vanished. In its place, an unknown entity seems to have taken over.”

“Unknown?”

“Even with the spirit puppet, I couldn’t scan the Inner Palace. Normally, I can fool the Apostle’s vigilance, but with this level of barrier, it’s likely…”

Just when he was about to say something, Cheon Woo-jin changed the subject.

“In any case, the Emperor hasn’t made an appearance in a long time, and the Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong have ceased activities. The Imperial Palace itself hasn’t participated in any external work.”

“Hmm…”

“And the science and technology in Luoyang have developed significantly, reaching a level comparable to the Western territories you saw in your memories. Things like iron Trolley’s and all sorts of internal combustion engines seem to have factories set up for mass production.”

“How is that possible?”

“Let me finish. Moreover, the Twin Gate Sect that once ruled the martial arts in Luoyang is still thriving, and the Han Clan appears to be led by Han Jin-seong now. Medicine King Hwangbo Yun has also been confirmed to be operating smoothly within.”

I silently listened to Cheon Woo-jin’s words before asking.

“What about Han Baek-ryeong?”

She was crucial: essentially responsible for the Han Clan and the powerful wielder of the Heavenly Spirit Pill as a Dharma Guardian. Upon my inquiry, Cheon Woo-jin answered as if he’d expected this.

“Han Baek-ryeong is currently nowhere to be found in the Han Clan.”

“……”

“Surely, something has happened.”

“What should we do?”

I became troubled by the unforeseen event. I intended to spend a short time organizing in Luoyang before heading to seek out the Golden Eagle Guards in the West, but unexpectedly, something major had brewed in Luoyang. Cheon Woo-jin suggested.

“I think it would be beneficial to hear my older brother’s advice again.”

“You seem to have an inkling?”

“My brother is more a strategist than a sorcerer, a scholar of sorts, and his level of thought is different from mine. He has the ability to judge the greater world.”

“Understood. I’ll have to report to Mangnyang anyway.”

As I turned my back on Mangnyang’s village, I glanced back.

‘Master Mangnyang didn’t speak after all.’

Why?

This was strange. The last few times I’d visited, he had always engaged me in conversation. But if Master Mangnyang didn’t want to talk, there was no way for me to initiate a conversation, so I could only withdraw.

Once again, I utilized Seo Mun-hye’s black mirror to summon Mangnyang from a nearby lake. When he appeared, he looked at Cheon Woo-jin and spoke.

[Priest, you are safe.]

“It seems my brother is doing well for now.”

[The final barrier of the Wheel King remains. Even with the scandalous involvement of all the spirits of the Underworld, it won’t easily break for ten years at least, unless greater beings intervene.]

“I’ll tell you everything that has happened up until now.”

Cheon Woo-jin relayed the information he obtained from the moon to Mangnyang, and I shared what I had seen and heard in Luoyang. After listening to all that, Mangnyang pondered for a moment before speaking.

[In the short term, it’s a challenging situation, but ultimately it will benefit us. It’s not bad.]

“Mangnyang, what do you mean?”

[Baek Woong, the return of Amatsukami may not be entirely bad. They could be useful adversaries.]

“……!!”

[And the scenery you witnessed in Luoyang is partly due to our actions.]

“Our actions? What do you mean by that?”

[Think back to what you did in this life. You went to the Western regions to obtain the cutting-edge printing press for the sake of the Celestial Sage’s assistance.]

“Ah!”

As I gasped, Mangnyang continued.

[At that time, my uncle broadened the societal framework to develop printing technology and enchanted knowledge in the Central Plains, based on the martial arts techniques and engineering knowledge he knew. He poured as much technology into it as possible, minus what was wholly unacceptable, so at the very least, it would have advanced science and technology by over a hundred years.]

“However, even so, it shouldn’t have produced a steam engine and airship in just five years.”

[That’s correct. I believe that’s a matter for the Imperial Palace. They’ve likely used the groundwork we laid to elevate their technological civilization as much as possible. I have witnessed the Imperial Palace meticulously disseminating magic technology to the public and even manifesting timeless engineering in recent times.]

“Hmm… but…”

I shook my head and said.

“Mangnyang, I’m confused. Artificially accelerating civilization shouldn’t conflict with the Law of Cause and Effect?”

[That can be considered a very lenient application. This is why my uncle carried it out without hesitation.]

“Lenient, you say…”

Mangnyang nodded.

[Just look at the Western examples. The Old Ruler and the High-level Otherworldly Race blatantly spread superior scientific techniques, but there was no holdback against them. Why? Because they had already eliminated the intermediary class that could monitor them and had all decision-making power for themselves, they could create waves with even a drop of water in a lake. Humans didn’t even realize they were being controlled. It’s a sort of trick.]

“Well then, why didn’t the East do the same?”

[Because the Celestial Realm despises it. The faster human civilization develops, the easier it is to recognize the existence of the Old Ruler, making it harder to manage them.]

“Then…”

I realized something from Mangnyang’s words, horrified.

“Are you saying the Celestial Realm is standing by while the Imperial Palace artificially elevates civilization?”

[That’s likely the case.]

“Impossible. If the Nine Lotus Sect were active, the Celestial Realm would actively defend, even descending upon them.”

[Baek Woong, don’t you find anything strange? The current priest of the Imperial Palace, Zhuge Yulong, remains sealed beneath the ruins of the Sacred Altar Tree, and hasn’t been released yet. But who could act with such agility and vitality to uplift civilization?]

“……”

[Looking at the pace of development, it seems within twenty years… that we will likely be using electricity in our daily lives. Engineers have already begun to mathematically grasp how to store and carry electromagnetic forces within space, standing out across Luoyang. Theorems about fluids and particles are already being discussed in the academic circles, with existing genius scholars adapting to newfound knowledge. The future of the Central Plains will clearly match the advancement rate of the Western continents.]

It definitely seemed strange.

If Zhuge Yulong were leading it, then the transformation of Luoyang over the past five years would make sense. It could be understood that Zhuque had merely shifted the direction of tactics. However, since Zhuge Yulong was currently sealed by the Zhuge Clan’s laws, half of the sealing period still remained.

Who exactly was transforming the Central Plains?

As I was in a state of confusion, Cheon Woo-jin standing beside me said.

“Brother, I believe such series of events can be attributed solely to that which can only be accomplished by gods.”

[Exactly. We must leverage that fact going forward.]

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Gods?

Mangnyang looked at me and spoke.

[Baek Woong, it seems your master has not spoken to you, but… the current owner of the Imperial Palace is not the original Old Ruler. That individual has already vacated their position, and someone else is now at the helm.]

“Really?! Then the Demon Subduing Hall has also retreated?”

[Not quite. It’s just a change in co-management. The Yacha’s close relationship with the Demon Subduing Hall was known through the Offering Ceremony held a thousand years ago. As allies, they could easily transfer the seat of power.]

“… No way…”

A bad feeling began to wash over me.

As I looked at Mangnyang with a doubtful expression, he nodded.

[The one currently ruling the Central Plains as the Old Ruler is the History Emperor, Changhil. And beneath him, the Eight Parts of the Divine have put the Central Plains on this path of advancement.]

The revelation that History Emperor Changhil was governing the Imperial Palace implied that it was the Eight Parts of the Divine—not Zhuyong—who had emerged victorious in the Divine City conflict five years ago.

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