Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Joining the White Lotus Church!

It was something I had thought was absolutely necessary to uncover the secrets of the Heavenly Spirit Pill, but various complications had kept me from getting around to it. Now that my business with Hwasin Ryu was concluded, I could finally enter the White Lotus Church smoothly.

Mangyang said,

"Baek Woong. Han Baekyeong said she'd give a response within three months at the latest. But she's not one to put things off, so we'll hear from her soon."

"I'm finally joining the White Lotus Church."

"Heh, excited?"

"Honestly, yes."

Back when I first obtained the Heavenly Dark Secret Book, the idea of joining the White Lotus Church hadn't even crossed my mind. Everyone shunned it and kept quiet about it, and I was content wandering the martial world alone with the Thunder God Style techniques I'd learned. But as the enemies I faced grew stronger, the pile of information I needed to dig out from the heart of the White Lotus Church had become mountainous.

"Then, until then, I can train in the Hidden Wolf Valley?"

"Hmm. There's something even more urgent."

"What is it?"

"Talking to Zhuge Sa."

Zhuge Sa?

I couldn't understand why Zhuge Sa was coming up here. Wasn't he confined within the inner sanctum of the Bopaesan Shrine, unable to move an inch? Mangyang continued,

"The situation changed once we acquired the Nangong family's Dragon Language Bead. We need Zhuge Sa's help now."

"Tell me what kind of help."

"There was that time when Zhuge Sa offered the Soul Shifting Great Method in exchange with you."

"Ah."

I recalled the past.

'Right, the three of us—me, Cheon Woo-jin, and Zhuge Sa—exchanged compensations in front of the Prophet.'

I quickly remembered the conversation. What Zhuge Sa had offered in exchange for the Crystal Stele was a manual called the Soul Shifting Great Method.

[...I'll give you this manual.]

[Soul Shifting Great Method?]

'It's the finest among the manuals I possess. That should be sufficient.'

At the time, Cheon Woo-jin had referred to the Soul Shifting Great Method as something passed down only to the Heretic Cult's leader, mocking though his tone was. Since he had vouched for it, I accepted Zhuge Sa's offer and handed over the Crystal Stele. Thinking back on it carefully, I said,

"But I was in such a rush back then that I couldn't even properly look at the Soul Shifting Great Method, let alone train in it."

"That figures."

"Is it important that Zhuge Sa has the Soul Shifting Great Method?"

Mangyang nodded at my question.

"I originally planned to have you train more in the Heavenly Divine Scripture, but I've thought of another strategy. It's a plan that will make searching for the Fire among the Seven Luminaries much smoother."

"......!"

Fire!

One of the Seven Luminaries, on the same level as my Water Dark Night! I had succeeded in reaching the legendary continent where it was said to exist, but I had returned after hitting a wall in pinpointing the eclipse. Jin So-cheong, who had been listening beside me, picked up a dumpling and ate it as he said,

"It seems like combining the Dragon Language Bead and the Soul Shifting Great Method."

Mangyang said admiringly at Jin So-cheong's words,

"Exactly."

Combine them how? I looked at Mangyang with great interest, and he explained.

"First, to determine when the eclipse occurs on the southern continent, we need astronomical observation equipment and tools. That data and equipment are stored in the Inner Yellow Pavilion of the Imperial Palace, so you can fetch them anytime with the Golden Flying Vessel and Mokgap. Understand so far?"

"Yeah. Got it."

"But we can't use that astronomical data as is. As I explained before, it's because this world is round."

"......?"

Mangyang pointed at the sky with his finger and said,

"The land we stand on orbits the sun. That's why there's a time difference between east, west, south, and north, and the rising and setting of the sun and moon vary greatly. You, who have traveled tens of thousands of li at once using the Golden Flying Vessel, would know this best."

I nodded.

"You're right."

When moving tens of thousands of li at once, the difference between day and night is huge. In the past, Mangyang's explanations had sounded like nonsense, but after flying around the world myself with the Golden Flying Vessel, I could vividly feel that the world was round. Mangyang continued,

"So, basing it on Central Plains astronomical data, we can roughly predict eclipses over the Central Plains using astronomical tools. But for the southern continent, we'd have to measure again from scratch. Because the location is different."

"Umm!"

I let out a groan and asked,

"When an eclipse happens on the southern continent, we can't see it from the Central Plains?"

"That's right. An eclipse is a phenomenon observable only from a specific point locally. If it's a different continent, you can't see it at all, and even on-site, the viewing spots are probably limited."

"Huh!"

"In fact, eclipses have had their dates recorded since ancient times. Using mathematical and physical calculations, we know exactly when they'll appear years in advance. So for another continent, we'd have to calculate everything from the beginning. Because there's no observation data at all..."

Mangyang muttered that and continued,

"What's even worse is that total eclipses are extremely rare astronomical phenomena."

"Is there a problem?"

"They're rare, so the cycle is incredibly long. In severe cases, they appear only once every few decades."

I was startled as I grasped Mangyang's meaning.

"Then... does that mean the Fire ruins might not open until decades from now?"

"It's just speculation and luck. If we're fortunate, we could find Fire soon, but if not, we might have to wait decades."

"......"

"In any case, we need to start by measuring the southern continent's astronomy."

Mangyang took a gulp of water and said,

"And for that astronomical measurement, I plan to use the Soul Shifting Great Method and the Dragon Language Bead."

"Tell me the specific plan."

"It's simple. Use the Soul Shifting Great Method to bind the souls of locals to my, and make them perform the astronomical measurements. Then, through the Dragon Language Bead, I receive the results they've measured and compile the data."

"......?"

"Astronomical measurement takes a long time and requires considerable manpower, so there's no better method. Later, after we take over the Imperial Palace, we could fill it with Portrait Automatons, but for now, the Soul Shifting Great Method is essential."

It felt like hearing something out of left field. I countered,

"Binding souls to— that's the power of the Soul Shifting Great Method?"

"Yes. That's why it's called the Heretic Cult's greatest secret art, and why even Daoists don't dare dismiss it lightly."

Mangyang spread out the Five Fires and Seven Metals Formation and continued,

"The Soul Shifting Great Method basically allows you to put your soul into an empty body, but as you advance to higher levels, you gain the ability to freely manipulate souls and. This applies not only to your own soul but also to others."

"It's complicated; I don't quite get it. Explain simply."

"Hmm... Simply put, those under the Soul Shifting Great Method live normally on the surface, but in reality, their soul falls under the caster's surveillance. You can manipulate them at will whenever you want, and know everything they see and hear. And it's not just one person—you can cast it on multiple targets."

"......!"

Not only I, but even Jin So-cheong was shocked to hear it.

Sharing the target's five senses and turning them into puppets whenever you please!

And the targets don't even realize they've been hit by the great art!

Having lived long in the martial world, both Jin So-cheong and I knew how terrifying that was. Moreover, if Mangyang was right, the Soul Shifting Great Method could be cast on multiple people at once. I shuddered at the terrifying power of the Soul Shifting Great Method.

"Th... that's a fearsome art."

"That's why the Heretic Cult is scorned by the martial world yet has maintained nearly a thousand years of history."

"Wait a minute. Then, in my previous reincarnation, did Zhuge Sa perhaps cast the Soul Shifting Great Method on me...?"

A sudden thought made my face drain of color, and Mangyang chuckled.

"Think about Zhuge Sa's personality. If he learned you're a reincarnator, would he leave you with your soul intact? He would've taken your soul, and claim that power for himself. Zhuge Sa is not the type to leave a reincarnator who threatens him."

"Ah!"

Come to think of it, yeah.

"The fact that Zhuge Sa hasn't made any moves so far is proof he never cast the Soul Shifting Great Method on you. Well, powerful secret arts like the Soul Shifting Great Method come with equally heavy restrictions when cast."

Jin So-cheong, who had been listening quietly, asked,

"Mangyang. How do you know so much about the Soul Shifting Great Method?"

"Hmm?"

"The Heretic Cult isn't active in the martial world anymore, and we haven't even heard rumors of their activity for over a hundred years—it's a phantom sect. Rumors about the Soul Shifting Great Method only say it's a soul-manipulating art, with no one knowing the details. Yet you seem quite knowledgeable about both the Heretic Cult and the Soul Shifting Great Method."

"Hmm..."

Mangyang stroked his chin and replied,

"I'm a direct disciple of Mangyang the Immortal, guardian of Daoism. Though I lacked talent and couldn't build up much mystical power, it's no exaggeration to say I've studied all existing arts and secret techniques of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. Naturally, I've studied in detail about the Heretic Cult and the Soul Shifting Great Method. My junior brother Cheon Woo-jin is the same."

"Did Mangyang the Immortal teach you?"

"My master's knowledge transcends humanity and touches the principles of the universe. No sage in this world could compare to him—not even dust."

Mangyang replied flatly and said,

"In any case, once we get the Soul Shifting Great Method from Zhuge Sa, we can use it not just for astronomical measurements but in many other ways. So we need to persuade him."

"Persuade... how do we do that?"

"That's exactly why I need your help, Baek Woong."

Mangyang sighed and said,

"Zhuge Sa's intellect is on par with mine. He won't fall for half-baked proposals or leading questions. To persuade him, we have to offer equivalent compensation, and that's something only you can do, Baek Woong."

"Hmm... so we have to give him a treasure in exchange for the Soul Shifting Great Method."

"Baek Woong. What do you think would be good?"

"......"

At Mangyang's question, I rested my chin on my hand and thought.

'A treasure worth exchanging for the Soul Shifting Great Method?'

Normally, I'd offer the Black White Lotus or gold ingots. But I'd used up almost all the Black White Lotus, and the gold ingots were mostly spent too. Besides, I doubted Zhuge Sa would even like them. The surest way was to exchange the Crystal Stele for the Soul Shifting Great Method like in my previous reincarnation, but I wasn't confident about pulling out the Crystal Stele.

I could easily retrieve the Crystal Stele from the Imperial Palace's depths right now, but I couldn't predict how the Imperial Palace forces would react. Sure, it'd screw over the alchemists short-term, but I knew the palace pursued power enhancement in various ways on the fly. Plus, they'd likely go to any lengths to recover their losses. Provoking them recklessly before properly clashing was foolhardy.

That left the Water Dark Night, Golden Flying Vessel, Mokgap, Black Yao Stone, or an unnamed sacrificial text from the palace. But none were anything less than precious. If I had to pick, the Black Yao Stone or unnamed sacrificial text remained, but compared to the Heretic Cult leader's secret art, the Soul Shifting Great Method, the Black Yao Stone fell short in value.

After agonizing, I said,

"I'll have to steal either an unnamed sacrificial text or the Crystal Stele from the Imperial Palace."

"Exactly. And it's something only you in the world can do."

"You sure it's okay?"

I asked worriedly.

"If the palace guys go berserk over it..."

"I can't account for that variable either. But it'll be fine, so don't worry and go."

Mangyang smiled faintly and said,

"No matter how things turn out, as long as you get the Soul Shifting Great Method, it's a win."

"......"

I could now truly feel that Mangyang's approach to planning had fundamentally changed. He was now pouring everything into me under the assumption that he could die anytime. Far from feeling bad or unpleasant, it ignited my fighting spirit instead.

'I can't live like this forever.'

Even reincarnation has its limits. I might endure fifty or a hundred times, but beyond that, my mind would break. My comrades, including Mangyang, weren't dying because they wanted to. I had to end the reincarnations as soon as possible and return everything to normal.

I vowed inwardly and replied firmly,

"Then I'll go right now and come back."

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