Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 15: The True Martial Home

I had two reasons for wanting to take Jang Sam-bong as my master.

“Peerless Technique.”

The legendary ultimate technique that can be attained by harmoniously mastering the Six Great Techniques, excluding the Peerless Technique, which is said to be proven against the avatar of the Old Ruler in the past. This made me realize that Jang Sam-bong could truly be called the One with the Overlay Technique. However, no one had ever witnessed the end of the Six Great Techniques; rather, they had used their excellent fundamentals to develop derivative techniques, and no one had ever demonstrated the Peerless Technique itself. That’s why I felt a strong desire to truly understand the Peerless Technique this time.

The other reason was that the Seven Great Techniques and the derived Eight Immortal Divine Art made up at least 30% of my current martial arts repertoire. Of course, I mainly utilized Thunder God Lineage’s swordplay and footwork in battle, but the powerful techniques like the Bowing Sky Slash and Three Treasure Technique mixed in the foundation of those movements were yielding a synergistic effect. Since this was an indispensable part of my martial arts, receiving teachings from the Grand Master, which formed the foundation of that power, would be beneficial.

“Master, I have something I need to do right now. Can you come back later when I need your guidance?”

[If that’s what you want, so be it….]

I decided not to receive teachings from Jang Sam-bong for now and sent him back to the Celestial Realm. For the time being, I performed a ceremony to absorb the Yin Spirit Power mixed in Jeon Wook’s statue. I avoided repeating the mistakes of my past life and properly conducted the barrier technique with Cheon Woo-jin to absorb the Yin Spirit Power.

Swish!

‘I definitely feel like I’ve reached a certain realm…’

I could feel powerful energy swirling and coalescing around my heart. The Yin Spirit Power absorbed by my body was likely forming a core on its own, trying to act like a monster’s heart. From now on, as I absorbed more Yin Spirit Power, it would cling to this core and gradually grow larger, and with each time, my strength would increase further.

Cheon Woo-jin, who was watching from the side, spoke up.

“Hey, promise me something.”

“What?”

“After you achieve the Yin Spirit Power, you won’t need to perform these absorption ceremonies anymore. From then on, hand over the Yin Spirit Power to me.”

“…….”

This guy wants to consume the Yin Spirit Power and get stronger?

I was perplexed and replied, “I could give it to you, but you’re already the strongest sorcerer in the world. Do you really need it?”

“Stop being foolish. If I could even get a portion of the Yin Spirit Power from Jeon Wook’s statue right now, I could immediately stand on equal grounds or even surpass the Great Immortal of the Celestial Realm. It would be comparable to the divine fever I experienced recently. Don’t you realize the value of that?”

“Hmm….”

“Remember, the mere residue of the Yin Spirit Power you absorbed in your last life almost birthed the strongest half-human, half-monster. For those in the sorcery realm and monsters, that’s a fortuitous encounter equivalent to Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”

“I see.”

I responded like that and said, “…But isn’t it useful for Miho as well? There’s no need to exclusively give it to you…”

“…….”

“You’ve also gotten stronger from experiencing divine fever…”

At that, Cheon Woo-jin glared at me triumphantly.

“You damn fool, how petty can you be! I helped you so much during your previous life, and you can’t give me just this one thing? Do you even realize how cheaply you’ve been using me?! The barrier techniques and the Seven Stars Incantation are all originally prohibited knowledge, but I passed them special privilege because you’re a reborn person! Would you have even been able to absorb it without me?!”

“Uh, well, that….”

“Don’t live like such a scoundrel.”

As Cheon Woo-jin exhaled in disbelief, I was greatly flustered. I had only lightly scratched the surface, yet he reacted intensely. I scratched my head and said, “Ah, I got it. After I achieve the Yin Spirit Power, I’ll give some to you. But I’ll consider Miho as well, so I’ll think of a method.”

“Hmph, I know what you’re thinking. But if you train in martial arts, you won’t be able to look that way for a while.”

“…I know.”

What I was thinking was about the ruins of the Heart located in the Northern Plateau.

That place was where, in my past life, the Sword Demon learned about a legend while searching for his in-law’s origins and eventually arrived after uncovering the truth. After many twists and turns, although he reached that place, the Sword Demon died right there. Thinking about the Sword Demon’s death from his past life made me feel uneasy, but at the same time, an intense curiosity boiled inside me.

‘The heart is sealed with five spears, and each of those spears belongs to Jeon Wook.’

So surely, those spears must contain Yin Spirit Power.

However, it’s not yet the right time for such an adventure. The method to open the ‘door’ of the heart ruins isn’t clear yet, and it’s obvious I would face strong opposition from Jeon Wook. Having committed myself to training in martial arts, my best option right now is to absorb the Yin Spirit Power from Jeon Wook’s statue each cycle.

Once the absorption ended, I sought out the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate of the Joint Mountain to deliver it to Mangnyang. After receiving the power of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, Mangnyang said to me.

“This is sufficient. For the time being, I will focus on practicing my sorcery.”

“I hope you ascend to prominence.”

“Haha! With this level of fortune, there’s no one who wouldn’t make it. It’s more than I deserve.”

He chuckled and then said, “However, before challenging the Immortal Realm, I need to meet Sima Yang-jeo for a moment.”

“Sima Yang-jeo? Ah….”

I briefly wondered who he was talking about, but soon realized. In the past, Mangnyang introduced him as a master of formation techniques, and he was an excellent scholar who had imprisoned Oh Seung-eun to help him write. I knew that being recognized by Mangnyang meant he was impressive, but I was puzzled and asked.

“Why do you want to meet him? He’s impressive, but he can’t possibly help you in your sorcery training.”

“Not true. Sima Yang-jeo is a direct descendant of the Sima Clan, and because of that, he inherited the military texts and sorcery scrolls from Sima Zhongda, a genius strategist from Jin. Therefore, unlike me, he can deploy Qimen Dunjia more powerfully as a barrier magician. He can be considered a top-level sorcerer.”

“Really!”

“Of course, due to the tyranny of the brutal emperors from the Wei-Jin-Nanbei period after the Late Emperor Sima Yan, his clan has been in hiding for generations. You know about the Eight Princes’ Rebellion, don’t you?”

“Hmm… Good point.”

“Thus, he can’t rise to prominence, and because of the danger to his life, he hardly reveals his true name. When I first met him, it was also under an alias.”

“Why did he reveal his name to you?”

Mangnyang said, somewhat awkwardly, “In ancient times, Zhuge Mu-hu and Sima Zhongda were heroes competing for national fortune, but as their descendants, we have ended up in a miserable state and became friends out of kindred suffering. I was looked down upon for lacking talent in sorcery, and Sima Yang-jeo himself faced resentment from the Central Plains, so we shared a sense of camaraderie in our predicament. So we ended up hanging out together, eating and having fun while learning a lot, but having no way to utilize it….”

“…….”

I thought he was just a passing figure, but it turns out he had that level of skill? Mangnyang said with a bitter expression.

“It seems that in my past lives, I didn’t properly introduce the value of Sima Yang-jeo to you, fearing that it might diminish my own worth. After all, you probably thought you didn’t need him precisely because you had Cheon Woo-jin…”

“That’s no big deal. Anyway, why do you want to meet Sima Yang-jeo?”

“In terms of barrier arts, Sima Yang-jeo is in the ranks of a top-tier magician. I plan to learn his barrier techniques to perfect my Qimen Dunjia, and my speed of growth will undoubtedly increase.”

“Hmm. Got it.”

“From now on, if necessary, I can also bring Sima Yang-jeo into my circle of past life colleagues. He is a righteous man despite his pessimistic demeanor.”

Mangnyang then set off to learn barrier arts from Sima Yang-jeo. With the situation somewhat settled, I headed to find a quiet training ground to consult the Sword Demon. Upon arriving, the Sword Demon spoke from where he was sitting with Jin So-cheong and Seo Mun-hye.

“I’m sorry, but even if I move at full speed to keep an eye on the Imperial Palace, it won’t be enough. And considering future issues as well, it’s not wise for you and your companions to practice martial arts here in the Shadowless Gate. Right now, I intend to slightly refine my martial arts using the memory of obsidian and then head back up to Luoyang to establish a new force.”

“What should we do then?”

“I’ll be heading to Sichuan. There’s enough wealth, so I can buy a secluded manor there to live in. Besides, that area is fairly remote in the Martial Arts World.”

“Why Sichuan? But is there really a reason it must be Sichuan?”

“There’s a reason. This is a strategy that Zhuge Sa has told me to convey to you.”

Currently, Zhuge Sa seemed busy using demon beasts and Demon Books to carry out some plan.

And as the Sword Demon slowly explained Zhuge Sa’s strategy, I made a bizarre expression upon hearing his words.

“Is it really necessary to call him?”

“Well, who knows? But it would mean a lot to Zhuge Sa. Plus for Mangnyang as well…. With a spirit of such stature, surely there would be something to gain, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Once you thoroughly enter closed-room training, you won’t have the leisure to concern yourself with worldly affairs. You should do all you can before that.”

“Understood.”

Along with Jin So-cheong and Seo Mun-hye, I took several gold bars and used the Golden Lamp to travel to Sichuan. Then, we carefully watched for a time when there were no people in the Unfinished House. Seo Mun-hye, who was spying beside me, said.

“Lord Baek Woong, it seems no one is around at this time.”

“Indeed.”

Seizing the opportunity when there were no people at the Unfinished House, we infiltrated the interior. Although soldiers were stationed on guard here and there, Jin So-cheong and I quietly used their blind spots to temporarily put them to sleep. They probably wouldn’t even know how they were subdued. Once the preparations were complete, I used the Heavenly Secret Technique and exclaimed.

“Come forth…!!”

Swish!

A moment later, one of the flames of the Ten Fingers extinguished, and a strong blue light appeared in the void as a figure was summoned. The ancient spirit that had been wandering in connection with this place accepted the Heavenly Secret Technique and was summoned. The spirit of a man, dressed like a scholar and fluttering a fan made of pure white feathers, looked down at us with indifference and spoke.

[So, there is indeed a holder of the Heavenly Secret Contract.]

“……?”

[Guang Chengzi, great being. Trying to read the future only ends up being mocked…. Heh heh.]

What does that even mean?

Still, I cautiously asked him, since I had summoned him.

“I apologize for summoning you like this. Are you perhaps the legendary Zhuge Mu-hu?”

[You must have known by calling me. No need to confirm it.]

“Ah, yes.”

There was something different about his atmosphere compared to the spirits I had summoned with the Heavenly Secret Technique before.

‘All of them had something slightly excited and wanted to help me in any way…’

This boredom-laden reaction makes me wonder what’s going on.

But it was certain.

Right in front of me was Zhuge Liang, the most famous strategist in the history of the Central Plains and the one who assisted the Shu Han’s Emperor in establishing the Plan of the Three Kingdoms!

Thanks to the powerful medium called the Unfinished House and the shrine, I was able to easily summon him using the Heavenly Secret Technique, and that was part of Zhuge Sa’s strategy.

“Ehem.”

I coughed slightly and carefully showed him the Azure Dragon Halberd, saying, “Lord Zhuge Mu-hu, do you happen to remember this weapon?”

[…….]

He looked at it for a moment and then said nonchalantly.

[That wretched long-bearded fellow’s weapon.]

“……”

[Apologies. I died long ago, so I momentarily forgot the etiquette.]

Surely, I must have misheard that?

Feeling discomfort from Zhuge Mu-hu’s words that sounded inflammatory, I shook my head and said.

“This, this isn’t the main point. Anyway… may I receive your blessing?”

[Blessing… if that counts as a wish, then yes?]

“First, I’d like to know what kind of blessing it is.”

[Then, it’s three wishes.]

“Uh….”

[The blessing I can grant you is the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain. You can use the sorceries I learned during my lifetime immediately without needing practice, but they will all be one-time consumables. However, if you inherit the knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic, it would greatly aid you if you intend to become a sorcerer. That concludes the explanation.]

He seemed to be speaking without considering my reaction. I was somewhat taken aback by Zhuge Mu-hu’s rapid-fire explanation.

“Why three? Even if regarding the blessing is a wish, it should be only two…”

[Did you not just ask me if I remember those weapons? That too is a wish.]

“…….”

[Your last question also counts, so that’s four. With that, I’ve consumed four of your flames from the Ten Fingers of your Heavenly Secret Technique.]

How petty!

Other heroic spirits weren’t this stingy with questions!

‘Th-this isn’t what I expected….’

As I was in a daze from Zhuge Mu-hu’s deviation from the legendary norm and extreme attacks, Jin So-cheong, who was beside me, spoke.

“Lord Zhuge Mu-hu. Unlike other spirits, you are aware of the name of this contract being the techniques of the Heavenly Secret, and you clearly understand the sorcery of Guang Chengzi. Other spirits do not have that understanding.”

[……]

“That means you are also familiar with the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate from Guang Chengzi or learned it directly during your lifetime, right?”

What?

When Jin So-cheong posed an unexpected question, I looked at him, and Zhuge Mu-hu stared at Jin So-cheong blankly before answering.

[Indeed, I am aware of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate. With that, it’s five.]

Without any sign of surprise, Jin So-cheong continued speaking.

“It seems you are trying to exhaust the flames of the Heavenly Secret techniques possessed by Baek Woong.”

[That may be the case. Six.]

“Why do you want to exhaust those techniques?”

[To reduce victims of the Contract of Deceit. Seven.]

…Huh?

What did I just hear?

“Do you know the truth inherent in the techniques of the Heavenly Secret?”

[Yes, I know. Eight.]

“Please tell me everything you know about that truth.”

[…….]

The atmosphere in the hall significantly froze at Zhuge Mu-hu’s next words.

[Give it up.]

“What?”

He closed his eyes and muttered.

[This world is despair. It changes nothing even if you realize it.]

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