Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm - Shiga Pavilion

A chilling sword hum flowed through the air as twenty sword threads sliced across the space. The Plum Blossom Sword Guards forming the Plum Blossom Sword Formation had unleashed their sword qi all at once. I easily dodged their attacks using Annihilation Soul Step, but I hesitated to take them down and fell back for the moment.

'No matter how I look at it, something's off.'

I knew there were an unusual number of bizarre groups and spell-users among the insect clan. Rashly killing these people might lead to unforeseen consequences. If I really wanted to, taking down the Plum Blossom Sword Guards right in front of me would be a piece of cake, but I decided to observe my surroundings first.

"Shoooosh!"

Even as I evaded with Annihilation Soul Step, I could feel their swordsmanship was remarkably refined. They weren't even grazing a hair on my head, but for an ordinary person, this would be a death trap. I inwardly felt relieved that I'd come after raising my martial prowess.

'Hmm... what's that?'

As I scanned the area, I suddenly noticed something strange. While dodging sword qi with Iron Plate Bridge, I sensed even more eggs lurking behind the darkness. However, these eggs weren't as massive as the ones illuminated by the thunder light; they appeared to be about the size of watermelons. To get a better look, I channeled internal energy into Thunder Spirit Seal and hurled it toward the eggs.

"Boom!"

The result was unexpected. I'd only meant to use the Thunder Spirit Seal's light beam to improve visibility, but the approaching Plum Blossom Sword Guards all flung themselves at it in unison. Naturally, my Thunder Spirit Seal infused with internal energy packed tremendous power, so the moment they touched it, their bodies tore apart and exploded. Streams of blood and chunks of flesh scattered through the air.

It seemed at least six had died at once.

The lack of screams suggested they had no sense of pain or even consciousness. Even so, what was going on? I'd had no intention of attacking, yet they threw themselves bare-bodied into the Thunder Spirit Seal and died. I was a bit flustered watching this, but soon realized the reason.

'They're protecting the eggs!'

Perhaps these Plum Blossom Sword Guards had been controlled by some kind of spell and turned into mere gatekeepers for the eggs. Devoid of pain or awareness, they were implanted solely with the mission to guard the eggs. That meant whatever had corrupted the Plum Blossom Sword Guards valued the eggs immensely.

This place was a hatchery.

From the insect clan's biology, it was arguably their most vital location. Reaching that conclusion, I clenched my fist tightly.

"No need to hesitate, then."

Being such a critical spot, it would surely be reinforced with more guards and insect clan members as time passed. I'd been dithering due to the unknown situation, but in reality, I'd struck at their vital point. The clear best move was to destroy the hatchery as quickly as possible.

"Groooarr"

I gathered my internal energy fully and kept hurling Thunder Spirit Seals at the eggs. The insect-controlled Plum Blossom Sword Guards charged at them like moths to a flame, blocking with their bodies, but when I put real power into it, a mere two or three human bodies couldn't halt the momentum. Before long, all twenty-plus Plum Blossom Sword Guards were shredded to pieces, and the Thunder Spirit Seal effortlessly smashed the giant egg.

"Kurrrooom"

With a grotesque sound, green fluid burst into the air. It reeked horribly and, upon hitting the floor, melted into a sticky bluish sludge. As the eggshell cracked open, the writhing muscles beneath squirmed in a horrifying display. And from within the giant egg's core, I saw something oozing out.

"...A fly?"

It was quite large—about the size of a full-grown rooster. But with its multiple arthropod legs and massive compound eyes, it could only be described as a giant fly. The giant fly had antennae on its forehead and mouth. Still alive, it twitched while submerged in the green amniotic fluid.

I pondered what to do with it, then approached and crushed its legs underfoot. With a "squelch", the giant fly's body convulsed violently, and soon it emitted a bizarre noise from its mouth antennae.

(#!*$&*@!%?!)

The giant fly thrashed in agony, rolling around. The splattering green fluids were gruesome. It kept spewing the insect clan's tongue, but oddly, it soon began filtering through to me clearly.

[Ha%&qk!#%! How dare you&%k!@ the outer&^k%! Savage hu#$%sman break my legs&k%*?! I won't forgive you!!]

[......]

[My metamorphosis is almost&@^% complete&k%!]

It was translating. And quite clearly at that—the few garbled words in between could be ignored. Listening, I realized this giant fly species had been the ones who destroyed Mount Hua Sect, and the one before me was undergoing some metamorphosis in the egg to grow stronger.

I grabbed one of its head antennae and yanked.

"Insect clan. Did you turn Mount Hua Sect into this?"

The giant fly rolled its massive compound eyes—whether it understood or not. Finding its appearance too hideous, I grimaced and gathered thunder light in my hand. As immense power amassed, I prepared to unleash Thunder Spirit Seal toward the egg pile.

"Answer me so I can understand. Or I'll smash every last egg."

That was the moment.

"I, know, you! Stop, please!! We, did, it!"

The giant fly screeched, clumsily speaking human tongue. I was dumbfounded seeing it mimic human speech despite its utterly different vocal structure. I'd expected some spell, but actual human language?

'Sly bastard.'

I glared at it and demanded,

"Why did you do it?"

"We, came, from, far, away! For, clan's, survival, needed, nutrition! And, servants, to, guard, eggs!"

[......]

I mulled it over as I listened to its broken human speech.

'They were farming human slaves for egg and larval nutrition. And brainwashed Mount Hua Sect experts to handle abductions and security.'

It seemed an intelligent species well-versed in humans. After some thought, I asked,

"Can you restore the Mount Hua Sect experts to normal?"

It replied with smug satisfaction.

"Only, I, can, do, it! Release, me, now!"

"How?"

"Remove, the, ones, from, their, brains!"

"From their brains? What do you mean?"

At my question, the giant fly rolled its compound eyes and said,

"I'll, show, you, one!"

"Drip..."

That was when it happened. One of the blankly seated Mount Hua Sect experts from the darkness staggered forward. A man in his mid-thirties, drooling with vacant eyes. Suddenly, something black began crawling out from between his brows.

"Squelch"

What emerged wriggling from his forehead was a black giant fly! Identical to the one I held, it buzzed off and flew to its spot. I checked the man—no wound on his forehead despite the fly emerging.

From this, I intuited their ability.

'They penetrate physical barriers to enter the brain! And control humans.'

No wonder even elite Mount Hua Sect experts couldn't resist. Sneaking into the brain via surprise, they manipulated the soul—perfect brainwashing. Simple, yet terrifying.

The giant fly said,

"You're, strong, human! I'll, let, today's, slide! Go, home! We, don't, want, fight, you!"

"...With such a massive incident, how come no one outside noticed Mount Hua Sect's abnormality?"

"We, can, control, humans, perfectly! Today, too, barrier, up—no, one, enters!"

"......"

"You, ignored, the, barrier!"

I got chills. As it said, not only could they control humans in their peeled-brain horrors, but make them appear perfectly normal to puppet Mount Hua Sect experts?

'These things... they're hiding something.'

I grew suspicious of the giant fly concealing its hostility toward me, urging me to leave. And why bother with a barrier on Mount Hua Sect just to herd all humans into building corners? Steeling myself, I gripped its antenna tighter.

"Arghhh, aaak, aaaah!! Let go!! Let go!!!"

"Where are the rest of the Mount Hua Sect humans? These can't be all."

"Inside, deeper, inside!!"

Clutching the giant fly, I moved deeper into the darkness. Channeling energy to float Thunder Spirit Qi in the air provided light far brighter than torches. Inefficient power use, but ideal for visibility now.

After advancing another thirty-odd paces,

"Ugh...!!"

Hell unfolded within. Giant fly-like insect clan members buzzed here and there, chattering in their tongue. Human skulls made into goblets overflowed with meat decorations. For entertainment, human men and women writhed in intercourse as insect clan cheered and watched.

Nearby, captured civilians hung gutted like pendulums. Some slurped human brains. A few humans seemed alive but, tortured sadistically, bloat and mad.

On par with—or worse than—the hell from the Nameless Sacrificial Rite!

Pure rage ground my teeth. I felt Yeo Dongbin descending upon me.

[My incarnation. From my demon-exorcism experience, those are an utterly evil, sadistic race. No mercy needed.]

[Yeo Dongbin. No need to lend your strength. I'll kill them all myself.]

Yeo Dongbin replied worriedly.

[They use powerful mental spells. It could be dangerous.]

[Mental spells?]

[Very potent ability. Be cautious.]

With no choice, I yielded my body to Yeo Dongbin.

[Please.]

'If mentally dominated or knocked out, no martial arts possible. I knew my mental fortitude was strong, but uncertain—better avoid eternal slavery and torture.'

"Groooar"

[I've come to exorcise the demons!!]

The Six Paths of Reincarnation Mantra rippled, then slammed into the giant flies without hesitation. Caught off-guard, they panicked, soon shredded in sword-gang vortices. Physically weak, half the indoor flies died instantly.

As thousands of sword qi assaulted, some spell-using flies vanished abruptly. Fled the scene.

"Shick!"

"Teleportation?"

Even watching, I was astounded. Mere flies using advanced spells!

[Give me your brain!!]

Others spiritualized their bodies, charging for my brain. The ethereal forms ignored physical attacks—even sword qi.

But Yeo Dongbin, with exorcism experience, coldly eyed them and raised his sword vertically.

[Haap!!]

"Pop pop bang"

At his shout, the spiritualized flies bounced off mid-air and burst. Panicking as spiritual attacks failed, they fielded before skewered one by one on sword gangs. Once Yeo Dongbin finished cleaning up, I asked curiously.

(How did you do that just now?)

(They have a spiritualization ability immune to qi. Gather intent to counterattack—their brains can't keep up and explode.)

[I see.]

Intent was an attribute-ignoring attack that multiplied spiritualization. Chills hit thinking if they'd parasitized my brain. As Yeo Dongbin pursued fleeing flies, I asked,

(What about the flies parasitizing human brains?)

(A powerful spellcaster leads this race. Kill it, and the parasitism command lifts.)

(How do you know so well?)

(Even in the Man Dynasty era, insect clan poured from Dark Heaven Fragrance to torment humans. An age of darkness and chaos... I've fought this race about three times.)

Yeo Dongbin muttered bitterly. My heart grew heavy.

"No compromising with the insect clan."

The hellscape I'd witnessed was truly horrific. Without my hardened tolerance from adventures, I'd have gone mad or hit mental limits. A race casually committing such atrocities must be exterminated. I understood Yeo Dongbin's deep enmity and disgust.

"Rumble rumble"

Emerging outside, whirlwinds and thunderclouds swirled from the sky. Yeo Dongbin summoned his flying sword, soaring up and shouting.

[Evil beings! You thought you could toy with humans and live!!]

The sky swarmed with fly swarms. They mind-spoke, mocking Yeo Dongbin.

[Kekeke... Humans... Jealous you get love from that blind, foolish father? Need to come here, but came from Shiga to torment you. And didn't you humans summon us?]

[Mad creatures... You serve that ominous one...?]

[Yeo Dongbin. Can memory recalls you as the exorcist from a millennium ago. We'll end you here!]

"Crackle crackle"

Immense lightning gathered in the sky. The sudden thunder torrent was unprecedented in ferocity. No human could survive such a strike—I tensed instinctively.

"Mere flies wielding such mighty spells?"

Even my defenses couldn't block that lightning.

No clue how I'd counter. End it before it strikes? Even that uncertain. As Yeo Dongbin feared, I lacked strength against intelligent upper insect clan.

But Yeo Dongbin focused his full power and cried,

[Cry out, Divine Sword of the Fire Dragon!]

Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship

Divine Sword of the Fire Dragon

Light of Annihilation

[Return to your vile origin!]

My body, a massive light mass with the Fire Dragon Divine Sword, charged frontally bearing Yeo Dongbin's will. His ultimate technique from slaying the Malignant God's progeny. The flies clustered defensively.

[Barrier!]

"Kachling"

Unlike before, the flies cooperated as a swarm, erecting a solid defensive barrier to block Yeo Dongbin. Undeterred, he amplified the Light of Annihilation and roared in fury.

[Vanish!!]

The barrier shattered like glass under his sword force. Instantly, the flies—without screams—were consumed by the Fire Dragon's apocalyptic flames, utterly erased. Not just incinerated; dark cloud/soul—no life could survive.

"Kurrroom boom"

A massive roar echoed as Yeo Dongbin halted atop Shiga Pavilion's roof on his flying sword.

[The enemy is vanquished!]

The explosion subsided.

Gazing at his sword, he said.

[My incarnation. We need to talk.]

[What is it?]

[You've earned the right to the Sealing Ritual with your comrades. About that.]

Yeo Dongbin had never broached this before. As a heavenly realm denizen, the ritual weighed on him. Hesitating, he continued.

[From today's chaos, you see—the insect clan's influence permeates everywhere.]

[You mean the chaos arose because we sought the Sealing Ritual?]

[No. Those flies were summoned here by someone. Using insect clan for their ends.]

I agreed with Yeo Dongbin. Even if insect clan acted whimsically, targeting Mount Hua Sect of the Nine Great Sects was suspicious. High chance someone steered them on it.

[Then...]

[I don't know what you seek from the ritual, but help purge the lurking dark forces. They'll surely interfere and steal your rights.]

[What if they take the rights?]

[......]

After silence, Yeo Dongbin said.

[They'll demand to accelerate the Star Seats' revolution. That must be stopped...]

[Star Seats' revolution?]

[Ask your comrades for details. He recently obtained the Three Emperors' Inner Gate of the Light Star Adept—watched even in the Immortal Realm.]

Mangyang pulled it off!

I inwardly danced with joy as Yeo Dongbin withdrew from my body.

[We'll meet again soon...]

After, I slaughtered the remaining flies inside. Some spiritualized and attacked, but using Yeo Dongbin's trick made them easy. Smashing all eggs dissipated the demonic qi. Removing twitching flies from survivors' brows restored Mount Hua survivors quickly.

But most were insane.

"Ehehehe... hehe..."

"Heehee... heek..."

Among the wretched slaves, promising young experts and female masters pained me. Some reduced to breeding slaves—restoring them would take effort. Nearby civilians, frail, mostly skeletons.

Selecting intact survivors yielded just three or four. Treating wounded and abused took a full day. Once sorted, I spoke with their representative.

"Our sect leader passed."

A twenties youth, Mo Jungi, a direct disciple, continued somberly.

"Mount Hua Sect... is destroyed... We can't inherit its essence."

"Even outer sect disciples who went out—all wiped out?"

"No. But with the sect leader and elders knowing core mountain arts and ultimate techniques all dead from torture... We can't remain even a mid-small sect, let alone Nine Great."

Absurd, I said,

"With this devastation, no one outside knew?"

"Thorough brainwashing... Flies swarming brains controlled minds—no one could reveal truth. Even sect leader rumored in secluded training—no one suspected."

"When did they invade?"

Mo Jungi thought, then,

"About a month ago."

"A month..."

Too coincidental, I thought.

"No way...?"

Was Mount Hua's destruction tied to our Sealing Ritual request?

No proof yet. I'd interrogate the captured fly back at base. To Mo Jungi, I said,

"If you're willing, how about entrusting to the Luoyang Han Clan?"

"Han Clan..."

"I'll vouch—you'll get aid and funds to rally survivors."

Mo Jungi shed thick tears, sighing,

"Ahh, nightmare... How could this..."

"......"

Shaking my head, I left Mount Hua Sect.

Next, to Mount Song.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!