Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Heavenly Realm

About one shichen later, I finally managed to suppress the pain and regain my senses. If I hadn't reduced the agony to less than half using the Flower Peach Golden Glow Three Veins Breathing Method, I probably would have died from the sheer torment. Yeo Dongbin had pushed my body's potential to the absolute limit without a thought for the aftermath. If I had been an ordinary human, I surely would have lost my mind from the pain.

Cheongwol and Dokgo Seong seemed to have finished their conversation. As I came to, Dokgo Seong spoke up.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes..."

"No external injuries, just pure sensory overload—there was nothing I could do about it."

Muttering that, Dokgo Seong continued.

"......"

I looked inward. After organizing my memories once more, I shared my honest impression.

"It feels... cleaner somehow."

"I see. That figures."

Dokgo Seong gazed at me and said.

"There's nothing left for us here. Let's use the Return to Equality and head back to Dragon King Valley."

"Yes."

Flash!

After bidding farewell to the Great Sword Heroes of the Eastern Brightness, we returned to Dragon King Valley. Cheongwol was curiously glancing around at the treacherous cliffs and drifting mists, while Dokgo Seong silently led us deeper into the valley.

A short while later, as we passed through a gorge where the mists reached their peak even among the deep mountains and valleys, a temple appeared. It was not small by any means and had been built with considerable architectural skill. Amazed, I asked Dokgo Seong.

"Did you build this temple, Master?"

"No. It was already here."

Dokgo Seong ran his hand along a pillar of the hermitage and continued.

"According to the writings left in the temple, it was built by Haetaek Sinhoe, the Seventh Patriarch of the Southern Zen School, during his later years in seclusion. Several ancient Zen documents remain here."

The Southern Zen School referred to the Buddhist Zen lineage, and if Haetaek Sinhoe was the Seventh Patriarch, he was a disciple-level figure to the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. This too was a relic from the Tang Dynasty era, dating back hundreds or thousands of years.

"It's a relic of a great monk."

"And we're putting it to very good use."

As we entered the interior, a space that clearly felt lived-in came into view. Dokgo Seong's tanned hides from wild animals were scattered about, along with cookware and daily necessities here and there. Sitting cross-legged in the center of the wide space, Dokgo Seong spoke.

"First, formally greet Cheongwol."

"Yes."

I knelt in the Thunder God Style's manner and clasped my hands in greeting.

"I am Baek Woong, inheritor of the Thunder God Style. It is an honor to meet you, Senior Cheongwol."

Cheongwol replied with a wry smile.

"No need for that. Without you, I would have met a miserable end back there."

"I knew you went searching for the Full Moon Thousand Kills Method, but couldn't advance beyond the coastal entrance?"

"It took decades just to pierce the Four Seas. But about three years ago, after entering the coastal region, I realized my own limits. The demonic beasts that occasionally appeared in that void hell of nothingness possessed tremendous power. It was impossible for me to break through the coast with my skills."

He let out a sigh.

"In the end, to survive, I clung to life day by day in a altar cave I discovered midway."

"......"

Cheongwol was also an extreme peak expert. From what I could tell, his skills were no less than those of Jeokwol or Nokwol Protectors, meaning he was far stronger than I currently was. After all, the martial arts of the Thunderclap Three Venerables were generally superior to Lee Owang's at this point.

Yet even someone like Cheongwol couldn't enter or escape the coastal region and was trapped helplessly! Aokigahara's deep sea was undoubtedly a demonic realm in the human world.

Dokgo Seong, who had been listening, spoke up.

"Cheongwol. Did that person really pass on the information?"

Cheongwol's expression twisted in anguish. Soon, his eyes blazed with fury as he replied.

"Yes. I intend to track him down and demand answers."

"Hmm... that's surprising, even so. Why would he...?"

"I don't know the full story either, but at the time, it was credible information."

"Well, with his reputation, that makes sense."

Listening to their exchange, I grew puzzled.

"That person? Who are you talking about?"

"The one who gave Cheongwol information on the Full Moon Thousand Kills Method's power and location."

My eyes widened.

"Who is it?"

"Mount Tai Old Man."

"......!!"

"As you know, one of the Three Great Eccentrics of the Righteous Faction."

Mount Tai Old Man!

I hadn't expected to hear his name here, leaving me flabbergasted. He was one of the Three Great Eccentrics of the Righteous Faction, renowned in the martial world for his advanced age and peerless martial prowess.

Unlike Beggar Immortal, the former Beggar Clan Leader, or Venerable Myeongho the Shaolin Divine Monk, Mount Tai Old Man was not known to hail from any specific sect and was shrouded in mystery. From all my past lives, the only thing I knew was that he was Sa Gong-rin's master.

'No... that's not all. I definitely heard that information before.'

Suddenly, a piece of info from my memory flashed by. It was from when the Sword Demon destroyed the Black Night Sect and extracted info from the Black Horse. Desperate to live, the Black Horse spilled everything, including what he claimed was top-secret intelligence. He had specifically mentioned Mount Tai Old Man.

['The Three Great Eccentrics of the Righteous Faction's Mount Tai Old Man has deep ties to the imperial palace and makes regular contact. We even detected him meeting with Zhuge Fu, the Imperial Plains Intelligence Chief, to plot something. This is top-secret intel no one in the martial world knows.']

Back then, the Black Horse was desperate for survival. The Sword Demon had questioned the info.

[Is that true?]

[Yes.]

[Mount Tai Old Man...?]

[That's the highest-grade secret I know. Please spare me for this.]

Of course, the Sword Demon wasn't one to leave loose ends, so he didn't. Killing him cleanly was the price paid for the info. At the time, even as top-secret intel, Mount Tai Old Man didn't resonate much with me, so I just filed it away. Knowing he was an imperial puppet was enough.

But now, Mount Tai Old Man was mentioned again. My mind raced.

'Mount Tai Old Man contacts the imperial palace... even with Zhuge Fu... and decades ago, he leaked info on the Full Moon Thousand Kills Method to Cheongwol, sending him to the deep sea...'

He was clearly far more important than I thought!

Uncovering Mount Tai Old Man's secrets might be the key to striking at the imperial palace's weaknesses!

The unexpected clue lifted my spirits. I considered telling Cheongwol but decided to hold off.

'I can't trust Cheongwol yet.'

It wasn't about the Thunder God Style folks being good or bad. In pursuing my ultimate goal of toppling the imperial palace and heavenly realm, conflicts were likely. It didn't perfectly align with reviving the Thunder God Style. I needed Mangayang's advice to weigh the variables.

As I stayed silent, Dokgo Seong said.

"You mentioned you became acquainted with that old hag from the Flower Shin Style. Borrowing your power would make finding Mount Tai Old Man a breeze."

"Isn't Mount Tai Old Man on Mount Tai?"

Cheongwol answered my question.

"No. I met him in Anhui Province too. He's only occasionally on Mount Tai; he's famous for wandering the world as he pleases."

"......"

The two seemed to subtly expect my help. It wasn't a situation I could refuse, and besides, wasn't this a chance for me to use the Thunder God Style's aid in finding him? I nodded without hesitation.

"I will definitely assist in finding that man."

"Reliable as expected."

Then, I began relearning the forms of the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword from Dokgo Seong. Progressing from Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship to the Ten Thousand Riders Sword Formula, and upon reaching the 10th stage of that, one could enter the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword. After teaching me the forms for about one shichen, Dokgo Seong said.

"Now, demonstrate it once."

I had learned the Thunder Dragon Divine Sword forms before and even how to infuse them with heavenly thunder qi. With no burden, I executed it. Dokgo Seong looked quite surprised, and Cheongwol, watching from the side, seemed astonished too. Dokgo Seong said admiringly.

"Impressive... With talent like this, reaching extreme peak at your age makes sense."

"......"

Should I correct him? But it wasn't the time for explanations. I decided to just play the genius. Dokgo Seong spent another shichen teaching me to draw out heavenly thunder qi, and once I mastered it easily, he moved to the next step.

Infusing heavenly thunder qi into the Ten Thousand Riders Sword Formula!

Only then could I naturally draw heavenly thunder qi across my entire swordsmanship. Previously, my body's ingrained habits from countless sword styles made it impossible. I raised my sword tensely.

'Hope this works.'

Swoosh!

The Ten Thousand Riders Sword Formula flowed majestically as if surveying the world, then drifted like clouds, gradually dispersing like melting frost, and finally raged like a storm. True to its reputation as the Thunder God Style's most flashy and variable swordsmanship, it grew more flavorful the more I practiced. Following its subtleties, I executed the forms while simultaneously infusing heavenly thunder qi.

Whirr—

"Ooh!!"

Cheongwol exclaimed from the side. Sure enough, thunder qi flowed naturally from my sword qi and sword flames, as if it belonged there. Clear proof I could wield heavenly thunder qi freely.

As the Ten Thousand Riders Sword Formula demonstration ended, Dokgo Seong nodded vigorously.

"Now, the only thing left I can teach you is the Thunder God Sword Dance!"

"You're too kind."

"Honestly, I'm envious of you."

Dokgo Seong's eyes held genuine envy.

"The Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin must have absorbed his sword experiences and insights into you through an intense battle. Thanks to that pressure, the wandering sword styles and martial arts in your inner self integrated. You've had a fortuitous encounter."

Indeed, thanks to reaching the Dull Sword stage during Yeo Dongbin's descent, I broke through my lingering dilemmas. But puzzled, I said to Dokgo Seong.

"But I still have no idea what the Heavenly Dull Swordsmanship is."

"It's an immortal's swordsmanship, isn't it? Even knowing it, you lack enlightenment."

"Hmm..."

Then, Cheongwol, who had been listening, suddenly asked me.

"Baek Woong. You seem to know the Soul Annihilation Step. Was it taught by your former master?"

"Yes."

"If it's alright, could you demonstrate the Soul Annihilation Step to the extent you know it in front of me?"

I nodded and unleashed the Soul Annihilation Step with full concentration. Having practiced it for over a decade, I could now use it as naturally as breathing. As the afterimages faded and the thunder qi subsided, Cheongwol spoke.

"Do you know the Soul Annihilation Step's secret technique?"

"No."

Glancing briefly at Dokgo Seong, Cheongwol said.

"If you help us interrogate Mount Tai Old Man, I can pass that secret technique to you."

"Even without that, as a request from a senior fellow disciple, I would certainly comply."

"I'm not that shameless. Since I owe you my life, I must repay it properly. So, while I'm already in your debt, let's settle it by teaching you my most precious secret technique."

Cheongwol seemed better-tempered than the other Thunderclap Three Venerables. He properly repaid favors and cared about face. Hearing this, Dokgo Seong chuckled.

"This guy ignores even Jeokwol and Nokwol begging to learn it—it's that treasured, isn't it?"

"I'd sooner die than give it to those two. But it seems right to teach it to Baek Woong here."

Then, a thought struck me.

'No way?'

Sure enough, the name Cheongwol confidently named was one I'd heard before.

"The Soul Annihilation Step's secret technique: Heavenly Light! I'll teach it to you."

It was the very secret technique used by Gokho, a disciple of the Thunder God Style. It seemed the Soul Annihilation Step Cheongwol knew overlapped with what Gokho inherited. In a way, saving Cheongwol led to a loss since Gokho already knew it, but I didn't see it that way.

'Cheongwol is an incomparable expert to Gokho. Gokho wouldn't even teach the basic Soul Annihilation Step to others, let alone the secret technique. This is the perfect chance to learn it.'

I clasped my hands to Cheongwol.

"Disciple thanks you."

Thus, from Dokgo Seong, I received the essences of Thunder God Style swordsmanship including the Thunder God Sword Dance, and from Cheongwol, the Soul Annihilation Step's secret technique Heavenly Light. In exchange, as promised, I agreed to teach Dokgo Seong Wudang Sect absolute arts like the Returning Wind Sword and Heavenly Pivot Sword.

With the training schedule set, Dokgo Seong said to Cheongwol.

"As I mentioned before, rushing out into the world isn't wise. You've been trapped in the deep sea, your body and mind worn—rest and steadily build your strength here in Dragon King Valley."

"Understood."

"If Mount Tai Old Man lied to you, something sinister lurks behind him. A black curtain behind one of the Three Great Eccentrics of the Righteous Faction isn't ordinary. It might even be the White Lotus Cult—be cautious, ever cautious."

"Yes."

Dokgo Seong had been a training fanatic focused solely on personal cultivation, yet he possessed his own leadership, judgment, and command abilities. He likely had considerable organizational skills, resourcefulness, and depth of mind. For even such a man to be unable to lead showed the Thunder God Style at its peak was extraordinary—its former Protector Lion I Cheong-un must have been truly remarkable.

As I prepared for training, I thought.

'After learning the Thunder God Sword Dance, I should find Sa Gong-rin first.'

She held my most solid lead on Mount Tai Old Man.

Sa Gong-rin, who learned martial arts from him and then descended the mountain, surely possessed the biggest clue.

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