Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

I headed to Jinrang Valley and began receiving instruction from Mang Liang on the Heavenly Scripture's spell. To be precise, I already knew the cultivation method and how to deploy it from the roughly four hours of teaching last time. Today, he was going to teach me the exact methods for putting it to use.

Mang Liang said,

"Alright, first, deploy the spell."

"Chiring--"

When I activated the Heavenly Scripture's spell, patterns appeared at my fingertips. There was one pattern engraved on each finger joint, making a total of ten. Each pattern had a bizarre shape unlike the Eight Trigrams or the Five Elements. As the patterns floated at my fingertips, Mang Liang continued.

"Last time, you learned how to manifest the Heavenly Scripture's patterns and how to maintain them. Do you know what those patterns do?"

"Of course. You said they're like candle flames—as long as the patterns remain, the spell remains active."

"You've got it."

"This Heavenly Scripture spell is a secret art recorded only in the Three Emperors Inner Gate. In other words, it's something originally only immortals could master; it wasn't permitted for those on the human path. As such, it possesses tremendous power, and if you use it well, it will be a great help."

"Hmm... I've manifested the patterns, so what now?"

"With the patterns manifested, focus your mind and visualize this circulation principle."

Mang Liang chanted slowly, as if murmuring an incantation.

"The universe has cycles. That cycle spans 129,600 years, and within it are the four seasons. The first half—64,800 years—is called preheaven, while the latter half is postheaven. Such vast seasonal flows course through the myriad ages of heaven and earth, and thus the four seasons are governed by the Six Qi."

"......"

"The Six Qi are the energies of wood, sovereign fire, minister fire, earth, metal, and water. They form one year, and heaven's Six Qi thereby acquire heaven's essence. The Heavenly Scripture's spell truly begins once you can wield the power of the Six Qi freely."

I'd heard the explanation before, so I had a rough grasp of it, but it was still difficult. As I racked my brain trying to comprehend the spell's mysteries, Mang Liang extended his ten fingers and showed them to me.

"Watch closely. The patterns floating on these ten fingers are ancient pacts that each control one of the Six Qi."

"Pacts?"

"I explained before that the Heavenly Scripture's spell is a spirit descent technique."

"You did."

"In truth, spirit descent is an extremely difficult and dangerous spell. To summon spirits, you need an innate spirit medium constitution, exceptional talent in spellcraft, and a vast qi capable of drawing them forth. Unlike other spells that anyone can learn to some degree with study and effort, spirit descent is utterly inaccessible to those without the gift."

"Um..."

"The Ten Fingers' pacts for controlling the Six Qi—these are repositories of heavenly power that allow even those without a spirit medium constitution or talent to perform spirit descent."

I thought it over deeply before asking,

"But Yeo Dongbin and the Great Thunder Immortal have descended on me many times. What about those cases?"

"Those were proper descents where they received the due price. They bore the full burden of the contract, so your own capacity didn't matter. But as for your personal talent in spirit descent? You can consider it virtually nonexistent."

"......"

"Ah, of course, after experiencing so many descents, your spiritual affinity has risen, putting you at an ordinary level now."

Mang Liang had a way of poking at sore spots now and then. As I smacked my lips, he continued.

"But while the entry conditions for spirit descent are harsh, once you can use it properly, no other spell delivers results as intuitively and reliably. I'm certain it will help you greatly going forward."

"Hm... Anyway, while the Ten Fingers' pacts are active, what do I do?"

"Close your eyes and attune your mental energy to the ten fingers. Sense the spirits around you."

Following Mang Liang's words, I closed my eyes and tried to feel the souls nearby. Unlike usual, in a world dyed black with darkness, I sensed countless pure white, glowing things drifting about. Within a radius of about a hundred jang, there were thousands of things resembling white will-o'-the-wisps swirling around. There were so many that I let out a groan.

"Ma... so many."

"Every one of them is a wandering spirit or soul from this world."

"How can there be this many?"

"Because they're not just human souls. Plants and animals have souls too, and before they head to the underworld, their souls are filtered—leaving only the pure spirit bodies behind."

"What now?"

"Expand the range of your senses further. At your current level, you should be able to detect up to about twenty li."

"Sususu..."

As I widened my sensory range, a vast expanse entered my perception. Amid it all, I felt as if the darkness between heaven and earth was swept up in vortices of light. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of spirits and souls swirled through heaven and earth! It was such an alien experience that goosebumps prickled across my skin. In a way, it was even eerie.

"Among the countless souls, you should sense one that's particularly enormous—hundreds of times larger than the others."

"...There is."

Just as Mang Liang said. Amid the hundreds of thousands of souls, there were enormous ones. Unlike the small souls floating like feathers, these stood firm in place, barely moving. As I observed the giant souls, I suddenly noticed something curious.

"Eh, there's a blood-red one that's incredibly huge."

There was something even larger than the giant souls. It was bright red and wriggled as if alive.

"Don't touch that. It's likely an evil spirit or a great yokai."

"What?"

"They're wicked things that missed their chance at ascension and now harm others. Remember their locations—you can come subjugate them later."

With that reply, Mang Liang said,

"Now's the time. Tell the giant souls, 'I summon you by the Ten Fingers' pacts.' They'll come to you."

I nodded and shouted in my mind.

I summon you by the Ten Fingers' pacts!

"Paat!"

The moment the thought formed, I sensed the giant souls appearing near me. The souls, which had been round in shape, gradually whittled down, soon transforming into human forms. Mang Liang chuckled and said,

"As expected, there are many powerful spirits in this area."

"Mang Liang. What now?"

"Pick any one of them and take it into your body."

I looked around and drew one of the souls into my body. Like water being sucked in, the soul entered me and soon took control of my body. Yet my consciousness remained clear, letting me know the spirit descent had succeeded perfectly. The soul now inhabiting my body spoke in a gruff voice.

"Why have you called me?"

Mang Liang asked,

"Who are you?"

"I am Dian Wei!"

"Hoo... A heavy hitter right from the start."

Impressed, Mang Liang continued.

"Ten li to the north-northwest, there's an evil yokai. Can you take it down?"

"Understood!"

The spirit called Dian Wei drew my sword using my body. Moments later, a sharp green spiritual energy coated my blade, making it resemble an axe. Then Dian Wei charged madly toward the north-northwest, soon arriving at a ruined shrine.

["Kraaaah!!"]

There, a snake-like yokai lay coiled. Human bones littered the surroundings—it had clearly devoured quite a few people. Sparks flew from Dian Wei's eyes as he roared,

"Die!"

"Boom!"

Moments later, Dian Wei hacked the snake yokai to pieces with axe strikes, bringing it down. His axe work wasn't any refined martial art, but the power and speed he unleashed were tremendous. I wondered if even I could match that potential using Thunder Name. His vitality was incredible too—no wounds even after being scratched and bitten several times by the snake yokai.

Having completed his task, Dian Wei departed my body and said,

["Your request is fulfilled."]

"......"

As I stood there stunned, Mang Liang—who had arrived via shrinking-earth technique—approached with a smile.

"Baek Woong. Check the ten patterns."

"...Nine remain."

"Each time you perform a spirit descent, one shatters. The soul won't release until it fulfills your request, allowing indefinite possession. And you can fully wield that soul's power and knowledge."

"What do you mean?"

Mang Liang chuckled.

"Baek Woong. Check your memories again. Aren't there new ones?"

"Huh!"

Sure enough, I now had memories of axe fighting and combat techniques I'd never experienced! They were crude, not true martial arts, but practical methods that maximized his raw strength. I also gained knowledge of the body techniques essential for a battlefield general. This was the kind of training value that normally took years of fighting to acquire.

"That's the experience from the wars that the fierce general Dian Wei lived through. By summoning him with the Heavenly Scripture's spell, you've indirectly gained that experience."

"Wow... a Three Kingdoms era general's fighting style."

"Heh heh. But with your supreme martial arts, you're probably not tempted by a warrior's spirit descent."

With that, Mang Liang chanted again.

"This time, confirm the spirit's form clearly and choose one that looks like a scholar rather than a warrior."

"Got it."

I invoked the Ten Fingers' pacts again and summoned a giant soul. Sure enough, as Mang Liang said, there was one in scholar's garb. Just to be sure, I spoke to it.

["Who are you?"]

["I am Fang Xuanling."]

["Gasp!"]

I was shocked.

Fang Xuanling!

He was a great statesman and sage of the Tang Dynasty, leader of the Twenty-Four Worthies of Lingyan Pavilion, and the foremost of the Eighteen Scholars of Prince Jin. He was also a confidant of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, hailed as one of history's greatest rulers. Anyone with even basic knowledge of literature or history knew of Fang Xuanling. He was the minister who practically propped up the Tang right after its founding.

'No way...'

Having a politician from a full millennium ago right in front of me left me dazed. Fang Xuanling stared at me evenly and said,

["If you've called me by pact, you must have a request."]

["Ah, then could you share some knowledge..."]

["That's no trouble."]

"Shuunk!"

Moments later, Fang Xuanling descended upon me, then seemed to ponder deeply. Mang Liang, standing nearby, said,

"Do you need brush and ink?"

"Yes, I do."

"Let's go together."

Mang Liang led Fang Xuanling back to Jinrang Valley via shrinking-earth technique. Once there, Fang Xuanling took up the brush and began writing furiously on paper. A long while later, his possession ended, and I examined the result: two full books' worth of every bit of knowledge he possessed.

My hand was a bit numb, so I shook it out as Mang Liang said,

"It's knowledge from about a thousand years ago, so much of it is useless, but he's a true sage. It's densely packed with profound political wisdom."

"Ugh... So this spell summons the souls of exceptional individuals?"

"That's right."

Mang Liang nodded.

"With the Heavenly Scripture's spell, you summon ancient souls when needed to borrow their power and wisdom. The more you use it, the faster your growth will accelerate beyond your original pace. That way, you can reach your goal before accumulating hundreds of reincarnations."

"......!!"

"And the more you use it, the more your spirit medium constitution and spiritual power will develop. It's killing two birds with one stone."

I realized just how incredible this spell was. I could summon famed generals, sages, and rulers from the Central Plains' history into my body, make requests of them, and even gain portions of their experience. It might not match the blessings of the Great Thunder Immortal or summoning Yeo Dongbin, but its potential uses were endless.

'Indeed, a secret art recorded only in the Three Emperors Inner Gate left by the Great Thunder Immortal...'

No ordinary spell could be this convenient and powerful. It was an immortal-exclusive spell, after all. A sudden curiosity struck me, so I asked Mang Liang,

"Mang Liang. Why haven't these ancient souls gone to the underworld?"

"Hm?"

"Fang Xuanling lived a thousand years ago, and Dian Wei nearly eighteen hundred. By the principles of reincarnation taught in Buddhism, shouldn't they have gone to the afterlife long ago and been reborn as new beings?"

"......"

Mang Liang looked quite troubled. He replied,

"Hm... It's complicated to explain, but I'll just say one thing: that question has a single flaw."

"What is it?"

Mang Liang sighed.

"The afterlife and the underworld aren't the same. They're entirely different."

"......? What does that mean?"

Mang Liang's gaze turned to the sky.

"It means that every human in this world can never be free from the gods, even after death..."

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

The Noblesse serialization concludes temporarily today at chapter 329.

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