Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Heavenly Realm

In this situation, I had no right to refuse. Of course, I could choose to use Flight Steam to escape right here and now, but that would turn both the Flame Division and the entire White Lotus Church into complete enemies. The reason I had just deliberately told the truth as much as possible was because whether the White Lotus Church would turn hostile toward the Imperial Palace moving forward was a critically important matter.

"Understood."

And this current situation could be called half a success. After all, I had managed to broach the subject with one of the colossal pillars of power known as the White Lotus Church Lord. Whether the Church Lord would join the battle against the Imperial Palace was another issue entirely, but at the very least, I had succeeded in diverting their arrows away from me.

Han Baekyeong spoke.

"Let us move to the Flame Spirit."

"Yes."

I followed Han Jinseong and Han Baekyeong into an even deeper area of the Han Family Clan's territory. There was a large furnace here, but no fire had been lit. Soon, Han Baekyeong snapped her fingers together, and whoosh—a streak of flame shot up, followed by a fierce blaze erupting in the furnace.

"Hold that orb in your hand. No matter what happens, do not move an inch."

Han Jinseong placed his hand on my shoulder.

Fwoooosh

"Huh."

In the next instant, my vision flipped completely, and I felt intense heat flames blazing around my body. Yet even within those flames, I felt neither scorching heat nor pain—instead, it was as if I had become one with the fire itself. Han Jinseong, with his hand on my shoulder, seemed to transform into the flames themselves.

Fwoosh

Once more, I felt my body shifting somewhere. After sensing this transfer two or three times, I found myself in a place I had never seen before in my life. There was a massive building with an empty grand hall, and at the center of the hall stood a gigantic furnace. I stood there dumbfounded right in front of it, with Han Jinseong and Han Baekyeong beside me.

"What just happened?"

As if sensing my confusion, Han Jinseong spoke.

"This is the Flame Division's main headquarters of the White Lotus Church. Prepare yourself to meet the Church Lord."

"......!!"

Was this place in Gansu Province?! It was at least a thousand li from Luoyang. Far from an easy distance, yet we had arrived in an instant. Of course, I could do something similar with Flight Steam, but this was utterly unexpected. To think the Flame Division possessed a technique for instantaneous travel!

"Is this truly the main headquarters? How in the world..."

"The Flame Spirit I gave you will have vanished."

I opened my hand and looked at my palm. Sure enough, the round crimson orb—the Flame Spirit—that I had been holding was gone without a trace. Han Jinseong continued calmly.

"Once the Flame Spirit Divine Art reaches a certain realm, one can assimilate with natural objects. This furnace combines that ability with a spell, allowing travel between flames. However, since you have not cultivated the Flame Spirit Divine Art, we consumed the Flame Spirit in your place to bring you along."

"It can't be..."

I was more than a little shocked.

The Blazing Flame Transfer Furnace!

If what he said was true, then as long as the Flame Division had furnaces installed, their experts could leap from flame to flame, crossing hundreds or thousands of li. I had never even imagined they were hiding such a secret weapon. It might not compare to Flight Steam, but in this vast Central Plains continent, possessing such a transport device was an enormous advantage.

A thought suddenly struck me, and I spoke.

"Could it be that the Han Family Clan's commerce flourished so greatly because..."

"Occasionally, for important trades or transport requests, we use Flame Spirits. We've benefited from it many times."

"......"

If Han Jinseong's words were accurate, then not only the Flame Division headquarters and the Han Family Clan, but furnaces were installed throughout the Jianghu. The Flame Division's experts could use them freely. Of course, only those who had reached a considerable realm in the Flame Spirit Divine Art could do so, but even then, it was cheat-level. They could transport goods from one end of the continent to the other in an instant.

That was probably the driving force behind the Han Family Clan amassing the world's greatest wealth.

As I fell silent, Han Baekyeong spoke in a sharp voice.

"I'll say it again. Tell the Church Lord everything exactly as it is. Fail to do so, and the power of the White Lotus Church will bring your utter destruction."

"Understood."

Step.

Han Baekyeong walked out of the Flame Division headquarters.

"Division Leader!"

"We pay respects to the Division Leader."

"We pay respects to the Division Leader."

The Flame Division experts who had been training here and there halted their movements all at once and prostrated before Han Baekyeong. With every step she took, their numbers swelled, and before she had moved a hundred paces, supreme experts lined up on both sides, bowing to create a grand spectacle.

Boom...

I swallowed hard. The experts arrayed on either side were no mediocrities. There were more than a few Peak Experts who could pass as elders in the Jianghu martial world, and at least ten or more exuded the aura of transcendent masters. Seeing them bow their heads without hesitation before Han Baekyeong made me realize anew just how terrifying her position was.

The leader of the Flame Division and a supreme being!

An ultimate guardian lion with infinite internal energy!

That was Han Baekyeong.

Soon, we left the Flame Division's domain and headed toward a gatehouse. Midway, we encountered a group of young warriors, who hastily lowered their heads and prostrated.

"We pay respects to the Flame Division Leader."

"Rise. I have business."

"Yes."

"Inform the Elder Council fools that I have urgent business and will meet the Church Lord."

"We shall relay to the Three Elders first."

The man shouted this and dashed inside the gatehouse.

I knew who he was. In a past reincarnation, when I visited the White Lotus Church, he was the security captain who patrolled in groups to maintain order. Having consumed spirit elixirs, he brimmed with overconfidence and was always arrogant and insolent. Yet even he froze like a mouse before a cat at the sight of Han Baekyeong.

A short while later, we arrived at the gatehouse, where a middle-aged man in white robes stood guard with an irritated expression. He was one of the Three Elders, transcendent experts affiliated with the Elder Council—I had encountered him in a previous reincarnation. The Three Elders said to Han Baekyeong,

"You're acting on your own again. Didn't the Church Lord say he is too busy to meet everyone individually?"

Though the Three Elders were estimated to be over a hundred years old, he didn't dare use informal speech with Han Baekyeong. She replied as if it were only natural.

"That would apply to trivial matters. But I have judged this to be a great affair that could determine the Church's rise or fall. Step aside at once."

"Don't order me around. No matter how much of a guardian lion you are, we do not obey your commands."

"You refuse to heed the guardian lion's orders? That stubborn shit of yours..."

Han Baekyeong muttered mockingly and continued.

"Know when to butt in and when not to. Please."

"......!!"

At the meanness, sparks flew from the Three Elders' eyes. The overwhelming killing intent unique to transcendent experts filled the air, and ghostly battle aura arose spontaneously. The Three Elders' internal energy was at an astonishing level, with few in the Jianghu who could compare. Yet in the end, he did not strike and withdrew his aura.

"Fine. I'll relay the message to the Church Lord, so wait here."

"Go quickly and come back."

The Three Elders ground his teeth and vanished inside with swift lightness skill. He was probably heading to the Church Lord's hall. Puzzled, I tilted my head and sent a transmission to Han Jinseong.

[Is the relationship between the Elder Council and the Flame Division poor?]

[Which of the Four Great Divisions gets along with the Elder Council...? They see them as the Church Lord's personal guard, so no one welcomes them.]

[The Water Division as well?]

[The Water Division received separate fiefdoms and lives there like a village. They have almost no contact with outsiders, so we don't know.]

[Hmm...]

If that was the case, then currently, inside the White Lotus Church fortress, the two major factions of the Wind Division and Flame Division existed. The Thunder Division had been expelled long ago, so aside from that, and the Water Division lived separately outside the fortress in clusters.

"The Church Lord has granted an audience. Follow me."

A short while later, we followed the Three Elders into the Church Lord's hall. The Church Lord cast a shadow from behind the dais, just as I remembered from before. Standing before him, Han Baekyeong politely performed the rites and prostrated.

"Flame Division Guardian Lion Han Baekyeong here. An urgent situation has arisen requiring me to make an immediate audience request to relay vital counsel to the Church Lord. If I have disrupted your sanctity, I apologize a hundred times over."

The White Lotus Church Lord replied via Six Harmonies Telepathy.

[No need. I am not displeased. But you haven't forgotten the policy I mentioned before, have you?]

"Of course. You once said that the three guardian lions should only request direct aid if the situation is beyond what our combined strength can handle. Otherwise, letters suffice."

[You remember well.]

The Church Lord's Six Harmonies Telepathy continued.

[Yet despite that, you seek a personal audience... This piques my curiosity greatly.]

Han Baekyeong fell silent for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts. Then she pointed at me and said,

"This one is named Baek Woong, and he is the reason for this audience."

[Explain in detail. I am prepared to listen.]

"Baek Woong. Explain."

I nodded and stepped forward, prostrating once more.

"Baek Woong of the Thunder Division pays respects to the White Lotus Church Lord. Believe every word I say from now on—there is not a single lie or deviation."

The Church Lord responded in surprise.

[Thunder Division...? Is that true?]

"Yes."

[Very well, speak.]

I began detailing everything that had happened in this reincarnation, including how I came to meet Han Baekyeong. Of course, I skipped drawn-out tales like breaking through the Aokigahara floods, deeming them irrelevant. After recounting everything about the Emperor and the Enfeoffment Ritual, a considerable amount of time had passed.

"...And that is how it happened."

[......]

The Church Lord remained utterly still behind the dais. Then he raised his hand and spoke.

[Elder Council, all members prepare for immediate mobilization. Go to Guardian Lion Yong Bitian of the Wind Division and stand by.]

[We obey!!]

Swish swish

Six Harmonies Telepathy echoed from various hidden spots, followed by presences vanishing. It seemed the Elder Council experts had been lying in wait. After issuing the order to the Elder Council, the Church Lord leaned slightly forward and said,

[Most intriguing. Baek Woong, why did you seek to claim the rights to the Enfeoffment Ritual?]

It was a simple yet piercing question at the core. Having anticipated it, I answered without hesitation.

"Behind the Imperial Palace lurks the Demon Horse Hall, vassals of the [Ancient Ruler]. To fight them, I believed I needed divine authority of equal measure."

[So you sought power through the Enfeoffment Ritual... Hmmm...]

After pondering, the White Lotus Church Lord continued.

[Baek Woong. You wished to become my disciple, correct?]

"Yes. I wish to become the disciple of the world's greatest expert."

[Even though I am the one who purged your Thunder Division?]

"My master, Dokgo Seong, welcomed me becoming your disciple. He said there must be a misunderstanding regarding the grudge and that he trusted you."

This was a lie. Dokgo Seong had never said such things. He wasn't particularly enthusiastic about reviving the Thunder Division but didn't view the purge favorably. However, knowing Dokgo Seong was the Church Lord's nephew, I brought it up to probe him.

'I need to glimpse the Church Lord's true intentions, even a little.'

The effect exceeded expectations. Upon hearing my words, the Church Lord trembled faintly, then spoke in a hollow tone.

[Seong... thought that way? Even after all that, he trusts me?]

[Had you intended to uproot the Thunder Division entirely, half would have survived at most. It's no grudge one can forget, but I believe you had your reasons.]

[...Is that so...]

The Church Lord spoke a moment later.

[Very well. Baek Woong, I accept you as my direct disciple. And I appoint you as the Thunder Division's guardian lion.]

"......!!"

Thunder Division Guardian Lion!

This meant I would succeed the previous guardian lion, Lee Cheongun. It also meant I could obtain the ultimate internal energy art, the Heavenly Spirit Pill. Seeing Han Baekyeong sitting silently without objection confirmed it was all but certain.

The Church Lord said,

[In five days, we shall gather the White Lotus Church's power and annihilate the vile Imperial Palace. Prepare thoroughly until then.]

"We obey."

[And Baek Woong. Before receiving my teachings, there is something you must do first.]

Something I must do?

Puzzled, I listened as the Church Lord spoke in a subtle tone.

[I give you five days. Convey my will to the Thunder Division experts and persuade them to return to the White Lotus Church. You can do it.]

======================== Author's Note ========================

Lately, due to the heat, I've been taking refuge in a PC bang, and I ended up playing Overwatch because people said it's fun... But Tracer experts are really impossible to handle. I can somehow take out Reaper or McCree if I land my aim, but Tracer is just... ㅠㅠ

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