Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Celestial Realm

Jeon Wook was a being of bizarre form. He wore flowing indigo imperial robes, his hands dangling limply, but even those hands were consumed by darkness. His face seemed composed entirely of chaos, a swirling void unto itself, utterly inhuman. You could clearly sense it was some "thing" masquerading as a human shape.

The oppressive pressure he exuded was nearly unbearable for any mortal. Sure enough, Cheon Woo-jin wore a strained expression, his chest tight, while Jegal-sa had his eyes shut, murmuring incantations to shield himself. Even the most skilled sorcerer struggled to keep their wits before a divinity. I just felt an irritating pressure, though, so I slowly opened my mouth.

[ Jeon Wook! I have two requests. ]

[...... ]

Jeon Wook fell silent. That silence carried an eerie intimidation, making the yokai attending him flinch. At last, he spoke.

[ You have yet to offer the sacrifice. ]

Sacrifice?

“......”

“Jeon Wook! Will you accept this sacrifice?”

Jeon Wook leaned his head, peering at the spirit portraits as if inspecting them. After a long gaze, he said.

[ Very well. ]

[ May it bring you joy! ]

Punk!

Without a hint of hesitation, Jegal-sa carved out the hearts of the spirit portraits. He placed each heart on the altar one by one, then knelt. Moments later, the hearts evaporated into powder and were sucked into the abyss of the void.

Jeon Wook, receiving the offering, seemed pleased as he raised his right hand.

[ Speak. The conditions for the seal-opening rite are fulfilled. ]

I watched the scene and thought to myself.

‘So he takes what’s his before we start?’

Even gods avoid bad deals, it seems. I found it oddly amusing as I looked straight at Jeon Wook again and said.

“I have two requests! Can you grant them?”

[ Speak. ]

“First, permit the unsealing of Water Luminary!”

Kiring!

I thrust the Water Luminary sword toward the heavens, and suddenly, a brilliant blue light flashed from its blade. A sacred aura poured from the Water Luminary, spreading like mist, startling the yokai and lesser divinities attending Jeon Wook.

[ Kraaaahh! ]

[ Is that not one of the Seven Luminaries?! ]

[ How can such an ominous thing... ]

The yokai began flitting frantically through the air in panic, while the lesser divinities fidgeted in confusion. It seemed merely facing a Luminary filled them with terror. As the heavens quickly descended into chaos, Jeon Wook waved his hand.

[ Silence. ]

Kugung!

It was astonishing. With just a flick from Jeon Wook of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the summoned thousands upon thousands of yokai and divinities fell instantly quiet. It was like courtiers sealing their lips at their king’s fury.

Jeon Wook leaned his abyssal face forward, gazing down at me.

[ Master of the Water Luminary. You know the truth of the Seven Luminaries. Do you not? ]

“That is correct.”

[ How much do you know? ]

“I know that if the Seven Luminaries are not properly unsealed through the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, it will summon the [Ancient Ruler] to the Central Plains.”

Jeon Wook pondered deeply at that. Then he blurted out.

[ Impressive. To think a human has uncovered that much? ]

“......”

From his words, I inferred one fact.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors do not want humans to know the truth of the Seven Luminaries!

That much was clear from Jeon Wook’s statement. For some reason, they sought to hide the truth of the Seven Luminaries from humanity. Questioning him here about the Heavenly Dark Lord’s deceptions would likely yield nothing. As I mulled it over inwardly, Jeon Wook continued.

[ Human. You are no ordinary being. ]

“Who is ordinary before a god?”

[ Even we, the creators of the Seven Luminaries, never imagined they would be unsealed before the age of the Dharma’s end. We forged the ancient pact to postpone the predestined apocalypse. ]

What was that supposed to mean?

I, along with Jegal-sa and Cheon Woo-jin, tilted our heads, unable to grasp the hidden meaning in Jeon Wook’s words. It seemed there was some tremendous secret about the Seven Luminaries, but without knowledge, we couldn’t comprehend it. Jeon Wook went on.

[ You possess the qualifications to become the Water Luminary’s master. By the name of Jeon Wook, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, I permit it. ]

Wuuuung!

At that instant, the oracle bone script engraved on the Water Luminary’s demon edge glowed silver, then blazed like fire. The burning characters soon vanished as if washed away, and the blade extended by two inches. An immense power flowed directly into me through the demon edge.

“......!”

It felt different from when Raquah had forcibly possessed me. Back then, the mighty divinity had crammed his power in by force, but now, the demon edge had truly become a divine sword, channeling the energies of heaven and earth to me. No swordsman in the world could behold this blade without coveting it—its majesty was overwhelming.

As I swallowed hard, Jeon Wook said.

[ Now speak your remaining request. ]

The unsealing of the Water Luminary had come so easily that it didn’t feel real. Snapping out of my daze at his words, I said.

“Not long ago, the Ming Emperor received the Command of Dominion and immortality from the Four Emperors’ Changhil. Break that command for me and teach me how to strip away his dominion. I want to defeat the Emperor.”

[...... ]

If Jeon Wook granted this too, I’d have gained everything from today’s seal-opening rite. I clenched my fists in anticipation, but silence followed. Jeon Wook floated in the air, unhurried, lost in thought.

‘No answer...’

How long did that eerie silence last?

Jeon Wook spoke.

[ Do you not desire immortality or divinity? ]

“Yes? What do you mean...”

[ Few have ever performed the seal-opening rite since antiquity. They were granted the chance to become gods. Fulfilling your wish would be simple, yet why do you cast aside the opportunity to ascend? ]

“......”

Jeon Wook’s question left me perplexed.

‘Immortality? Divinity?’

I’d never really considered it. Rescuing Mangryang and toppling the Emperor were my sole concerns. Pondering Jeon Wook’s words, I thought about immortality.

If I gained immortality, I’d enjoy many things, of course. I’d stop dying so easily after all my close calls. But it would also mean forfeiting the chance of reincarnation through the Heavenly Dark Secret Book. In the end, I realized immortality offered me little benefit.

And becoming a god?

What difference would that make from immortality?

‘Pointless.’

According to Milo, divinity brought supreme fulfillment beyond the material world. I couldn’t imagine it, but I felt no urge to experience it. Becoming a god held no appeal. Surviving as a human was hard enough—what good would godhood do?

After a moment’s reflection, I told Jeon Wook.

“I have no need for it.”

[ Your heart is true. In all antiquity, this Emperor has never seen a human like you... To deem immortality and divinity worthless. ]

“......”

[ Very well. I shall grant your request. ]

Suusuuu

Jeon Wook’s two arms seemed to vanish. Sinking into the darkness, they grew enormous, manifesting in the sky as if forcibly twisting and tearing reality. Then, from the void, Jeon Wook’s arm extracted something and bestowed it upon me.

[ May the Emperor’s divine aura, which blankets the Nine Wilds, be with you! ]

Paaat!

A strange energy enveloped me. It was like a yellow cloth of qi that cloaked my body before vanishing into formlessness. It felt like a divine blessing. Though I received it, I sensed no immediate change, so I moved about to test it. It didn’t seem to directly enhance my abilities.

Having bestowed the blessing, Jeon Wook of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors gazed at me and said.

[ You feel strangely familiar. As if touching some vast essence, filling this Emperor with plenitude. Thus, I shall grant one more request. ]

Screams rang out.

“Huhuh?!”

“No way! In all the world...”

At Jeon Wook’s words, Cheon Woo-jin and Jegal-sa beside me gasped in shock. They clearly hadn’t expected it either, their faces frozen wide-eyed, emotions unchecked.

What’s with them?

Thinking they were overreacting, I pondered what to ask for. With the Water Luminary unsealed and the blessing against the Emperor secured, my primary goals were met. And now Jeon Wook offered one extra request—best to ask for something truly beneficial.

Mangryang’s words came to mind.

[ Baek Wook. In this life, you must succeed in the seal-opening rite and uncover the true intent and identity of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Knowing what they truly desire is the only way we will let you find a way to defeat them. ]

Right. I need to learn the identity of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and what they want.

That must be what Mangryang desired.

Making up my mind, I said.

“Jeon Wook. Why did the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors create the Seven Luminaries? And what is your relationship to the [Ancient Ruler]?”

“Baek—Baek Wook?!”

At that moment, Cheon Woo-jin panicked and grabbed my collar. Sweat poured from his brow and face as he said.

“Stop! How can you pry into the greatest secret of heaven...?”

I slapped away Cheon Woo-jin’s hand from my collar and said.

“Even if it kills me, I need to know. This doesn’t concern you.”

Cheon Woo-jin, flustered, grew agitated.

“Damn it...! What you asked is an primordial secret! Think they’ll just tell you? Defying the Creator God’s will means death!”

“Death?”

I smirked and replied.

“That sounds fine to me.”

Endless reincarnations had inured me to such threats. At a loss for words, Cheon Woo-jin was met by Jegal-sa, who shot me a sharp glare and said.

“Hey, Cheon Woo-jin. Threats of death don’t work on this guy. He’s already made death part of his life.”

“You know it well.”

“But I agree with Cheon Woo-jin. Drop it here. It’s impossible. Pushing further is just self-destruction.”

I glanced at Jegal-sa and said.

“If it’s self-destruction, it’s mine to choose. You can just watch and enjoy.”

Jegal-sa scowled.

“Then promise. You’ll die alone.”

“Fine.”

Without hesitation, I looked up at Jeon Wook and shouted.

“Jeon Wook! If you deem my question insolent, kill only me. These two are innocent.”

[...... ]

Jeon Wook gazed down at the earth. Though his form was a featureless void without eyes, nose, or mouth, I felt his gaze upon us. We all tensed, staring up, until at last Jeon Wook spoke.

[ I shall answer. ]

After a pause, he continued.

[ In the beginning, in the eons of remotest time, we were born. Born transcending time and causality. We knew of the birth of heaven and earth, cosmos entire. And innately, we knew our existence was permitted to reign over the mortal world. No life in this realm could touch our heels. At our pinnacle stood my origin, the Yellow Emperor Gongsun Xuanyuan. He unified us and granted our rightful station. ]

He had explained the birth of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

‘We?’

The plural nagged at me. Focusing intently to miss nothing, Jeon Wook’s words flowed on.

[ At the same time, we knew this world’s end was coming—and when. That apocalypse would be heralded by malign gods, but orchestrated by an even greater being. Thus, we chose not to avert the end, but to postpone it. ]

‘Postpone it?’

Postponing the end.

The Sword Immortal Ye Yong-hin had mentioned it too. Indeed, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and the Celestial Realm knew of the world’s destruction and touted “postponement” as their countermeasure.

[ Yes. To that end, we fostered human civilization’s flourishing, while channeling their lingering hopes into forging the Seven Luminaries. With the [Ancient Ruler] bound to the Luminaries’ pact, we halted needless battles and achieved truce. The Luminaries became our seal. You mortals gained thousands of years of peace. ]

Pausing there, Jeon Wook said.

[ Even after humanity’s fall, we shall endure. The Luminaries are but the Emperor’s whim, a mere courtesy. Understand our relation to the [Ancient Ruler] thus. I deem this all the answers you require. ]

“......”

I pondered deeply, then asked.

“Then are the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors currently in the Celestial Realm?”

[ We are not there. ]

“Yes?”

[ No... Or perhaps yes. ]

A profoundly cryptic response, but I figured Mangryang could decipher it. Not fully grasping it myself, I’d at least secured a major clue, I bowed to Jeon Wook.

“Thank you.”

[ The day I see you again, I would take you as my retainer. Farewell. ]

Paaat!

In the next instant, the yokai and divinities filling heaven and earth vanished, the pitch-black darkness lifting. Jeon Wook of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors disappeared without trace. Realizing the seal-opening rite was over, I sighed in relief at having passed this hurdle.

“Huu.”

I turned to Cheon Woo-jin and Jegal-sa.

“The rite seems complete! Let’s move.”

Cheon Woo-jin sighed.

“Baek Wook. Soon I’ll ask my master and uncover your true nature. You’re the most enigmatic being I’ve ever encountered.”

“Enigmatic?”

“Jeon Wook is renowned among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors as the most brutal and cruel. To not only win his favor but receive an extra blessing... No such being has existed since antiquity.”

Cheon Woo-jin continued earnestly.

“I’ll ask seriously. Are you even human?”

“Then I don’t look human? Am I some octopus beast?”

Irritated, I waved my hands.

“Unfortunately, I can’t sprout tentacles!”

“......”

Jegal-sa chuckled beside us.

“Kekeke. Idiots.”

Cheon Woo-jin and I turned to him simultaneously and yelled.

“Shut up!”

We tidied the heavenly altar and exited Mount Hua.

At any rate, the basic preparations were done. Before heading to Bideung, I asked Jegal-sa and Cheon Woo-jin.

“The White Lotus Cult has gotten involved—how should we handle it?”

Upon hearing the situation with the White Lotus Cult, they pondered. Cheon Woo-jin spoke first.

“Not my problem. Handle it yourself.”

As expected.

I scowled, and Jegal-sa said.

“It’s not impossible to persuade them, right? With your cunning, you can sweet-talk them. From what I see, those Thunder God Ryu fools are all stubborn blockheads.”

“What trick should I use?”

“Hmm... Try this.”

Jegal-sa then outlined a strategy. Hearing it, I thought it plausible and nodded in admiration.

“I see. Worth a shot.”

“It’s advice worth its weight in gold—listen well.”

“It would be perfect if you weren’t so self-praising.”

As I grumbled, Jegal-sa warned.

“But watch out for one of them. No telling how that one might bolt.”

I knew who Jegal-sa meant.

No helping it.

“I know.”

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