Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

After exchanging the Crystal Stone Tablet for the Soul Separation Great Law, Mang Ryang and I went to learn the Soul Separation Great Law from Zhuge Sa. The Soul Separation Great Law itself was an ancient secret manual of the highest order, but it was naturally far better to learn it directly from someone who had mastered it to perfection. The difference in achievements at the foundational stage was incalculable, making it an unavoidable necessity.

Zhuge Sa said,

"The Soul Separation Great Law is a technique that manipulates the hun soul and po spirit. It's called a method for transplanting the hun for convenience, but at its root, it's about handling the very medium of the soul. Thus, to cultivate the Soul Separation Great Law, one must possess the talent of a spirit medium."

Spirit medium.

It was a constitution suited for spirit possession arts and an innate talent. Those born with a spirit medium physique could see souls or spirits without any separate training. After saying this, Zhuge Sa looked back and forth between Mang Ryang and me, then chuckled.

"Neither of you has innate spirit medium talent, but you've built it up artificially to a sufficient level. You meet the basic requirements."

In Mang Ryang's case, he had gained the qualifications thanks to a surge in spiritual power from acquiring the Three Emperors Inner Core. For me, it seemed the ten years of carrying Miho's dharma vessel in my past life, the overdose of black and white lotus, and the Heavenly Nerve Scripture's spells had played a major role. Mang Ryang said,

"I have a question."

"The Fire Worship Cult originally sought power by communing with other races. Their faith is in Ahura Mazda, a dualistic monotheistic religion. I understand that the flames of faith and the entity Ahura Mazda symbolize the [Ancient Ruler] from a distant starry world."

Zhuge Sa listened silently before replying.

"Correct. And?"

"If their attribute is fire, what is the background behind the birth of such an advanced spiritual technique as the Soul Separation Great Law? Even I never heard this from my master."

"Hmm. You wonder about everything..."

Zhuge Sa grumbled, but he seemed somewhat amused. As the leader of the Fire Worship Cult, he couldn't dislike interest in his religion. After a moment's thought, Zhuge Sa answered.

"The Fire Worship Cult originally worshipped the Illusion Flame Spirit God. As you said, it was an [Ancient Ruler]. But that entity showed too little interest in this world, so the cult gradually declined. To halt the crumbling denomination, they sought ways to retain their followers. In the process, they acquired the sorcery of the Left Path Sects and ancient Daoist divination arts, using them to create the Soul Separation Great Law."

"......"

Hearing this, Mang Ryang looked stunned and bewildered before saying,

"You're saying the cult declined because their worshipped deity was indifferent to the human world? You expect me to believe such nonsense?"

"Who said anything about believing it? It's fact—believe it or not, your choice."

Zhuge Sa replied curtly, then grumbled.

"From the start, enshrining a colossal being that doesn't need faith to survive was the mistake. In any case, though evil arts remain in the Fire Worship Cult, you must focus on cultivating the Soul Separation Great Law."

"I see."

Soon after, Zhuge Sa taught us the method to cultivate the Soul Separation Great Law. After showing Mang Ryang and me several hand seals and postures, he said,

"Practice the hand seals and postures I just taught you continuously for three months. It's a training method to develop the ability to separate the po spirit, so reaching proficiency will take at least three years."

"Understood."

"That's all I can teach you now. The beginner stage is the same whether you read the manual or not. Come back when you've completed the training."

With that, Zhuge Sa abruptly returned to his quarters. He seemed eager to examine the Crystal Stone Tablet he'd received.

'Unfriendly as ever.'

But since it was just the beginner stage, I had nothing to complain about. Any discipline or study starts with dull, repetitive basics. Mang Ryang turned to me and said,

"Baek Woong, you don't need to devote yourself fully to the Soul Separation Great Law. I'll master it first, so use the remaining time to learn the Triple Excellence absolute arts from Jin So-cheong."

"Is that alright? Even focusing on one is barely enough..."

"The Soul Separation Great Law isn't an absolute art you can master in a short time anyway. But if you just memorize the knack of the Triple Excellence arts, you can learn them faster from Jin So-cheong in your next reincarnation. And since we're prioritizing Jin So-cheong's growth for efficiency, a compromise is best."

Mang Ryang drove the point home.

"It's better to master even one properly... You're right, but in this case, starting everything yields gains."

"Got it."

As Mang Ryang suggested, I spent half the day training in the Soul Separation Great Law and the rest learning the Triple Excellence arts from Jin So-cheong. The Soul Separation Great Law was simple po spirit separation training, so it seemed I could cultivate it alone without issue.

As Jin So-cheong taught me the Triple Excellence arts, he said,

"Baek Woong, you must not understand these three steps as mere footwork."

I looked up at Jin So-cheong from my seated position. As expected, when training stalled, it was time for one of his bits of advice.

"The absolute art Seven Stars Escaping Shadow shifts through myriad changes following the movements of the Big Dipper. And when the energy of the seven stars reaches its peak, the positions reverse."

Swish!

Jin So-cheong appeared silently in a different position. It was a ghostly maneuver that made one wonder if it was spatial translocation. Jin So-cheong continued,

"Take yourself as the axis of the Big Dipper Seven Stars and visualize the movements of the remaining six stars in your mind. Only then can you connect the stars to complete the three steps of heaven, earth, and man."

Even listening to his advice, I couldn't grasp what he meant. I understood the theory, but it felt like grasping at clouds—I had no clue. This was because the higher the transcendent realm, the stronger the metaphors, encapsulating dozens of insights within them, beyond ordinary genius.

I practiced furiously for two hours but still couldn't comprehend. Finally, I sighed deeply and said,

"It's too hard. Honestly, I have no idea what's what."

"Hmm... I thought I'd explained it simply enough."

Jin So-cheong seemed troubled too. After pondering, he said,

"Perhaps, Baek Woong, we should gather giant black obsidian again so I can impart martial enlightenment to you directly?"

"I considered that before, but it requires you to master the black obsidian spells. Making arbitrary deals with the Prophet is dangerous, and we haven't found obsidian as large as before."

"Hmm, true."

"The Sword Demon said he'd find the black obsidian mine, so we'll consider it when word comes."

I thought stealing the Nameless Shrine Scripture from the imperial palace would allow an immediate deal with the Prophet, but I shelved it. The Triple Excellence arts were tempting, but who knew what future deals might be needed. For contingencies, I wanted to save the Prophet transaction.

For the next ten days, I trained the Soul Separation Great Law with Mang Ryang and the Triple Excellence arts with Jin So-cheong. But despite immersing myself for ten days, no notable achievements emerged. It felt like treading water, draining my energy.

Then Mang Ryang said,

"It's normal, so don't worry."

"Normal?"

"Yes. Whether the Soul Separation Great Law or Triple Excellence arts, mastering even one lets you dominate the world—grand absolute arts. Success within ten years is a win, so don't stress."

"......"

In other words, ten years of secluded training like this?

I felt a bit dizzy but shook my head. Wasn't it a blessing just to learn such techniques? With that thought, I resolved to focus on training.

Thus, about another month passed.

One day, Mang Ryang went down to the village in Jin Rang Valley and returned with a letter. He said,

"Let's head to the Luoyang Han Clan right now. We've been summoned."

"Word came?"

Mang Ryang nodded.

"The White Lotus Cult has approved our entry. They'll probably use the Fire God Style's hearth Flame Spirit to transport us."

"Ah."

The Fire God Style's hearth, Flame Spirit!

It was a convenient treasure allowing instantaneous travel to any place with a matching hearth. No one knew why the Fire God Style possessed such a powerful treasure, but Flame Spirit was the driving force behind their immense wealth. The advantage of swiftly and waste-free logistics brought absurd profits to commerce.

We prepared and visited Zhuge Sa. He seemed to be crafting something with metallurgy, handling mercury on a large hot plate. Glanceing at us, he said,

"What?"

"We're going to the White Lotus Cult. Proceed as discussed before. Use people from Jin Rang Valley as needed."

"Got it. I'm already watching Cheon Woo-jin for you, aren't I?"

"Think of it as a colleague, not surveillance."

Zhuge Sa smirked at Mang Ryang's words.

"Colleague my ass! Get trapped in the Mountain River Nation Chart yourself, see if you say that."

"I only asked you to shorten the perceived time in the Mountain River Nation Chart out of courtesy to my uncle. No reason for complaints."

"Whatever, go and come back. I can handle what you asked easily."

"Leave it to you."

We left Zhuge Sa behind, exited Jin Rang Valley, and mounted horses. We could have used lightness arts or the flying ship to reach Luoyang directly, but we chose this cumbersome method due to White Lotus Cult surveillance. They undoubtedly had experts and spies monitoring Jin Rang Valley, so arriving instantly via flying ship would arouse suspicion. Plus, lightness arts wasted unnecessary stamina, making horses preferable.

Four hours after departure, while resting our horses on a deserted country road, I asked Mang Ryang,

"I forgot to ask earlier—what did you commission from Zhuge Sa?"

"Oh, that."

Mang Ryang replied,

"I asked him to manufacture guns."

"Guns?"

"I disassembled and reassembled the Westerner's gun you gave me, sketched a rough blueprint, and gave it to him. With the Crystal Stone Tablet, he can create superior metal regardless of flame temperature, so he should replicate it. In half a year, he can make five thousand."

I tilted my head.

"What for?"

"Obvious, isn't it? Supply them to General Hwang Yeon's Northern Dragon Corps in Liaodong."

"......!!"

The Northern Dragon Corps here? As I looked at Mang Ryang in shock, he said,

"That gun can change the era because it's not a matchlock—it's a breech-loader."

"Breech-loader?"

"A gun that uses cartridge cases."

Mang Ryang continued,

"And the Northern Dragon Corps will soon be a key force in seizing the imperial palace. Supplying them modern guns will boost their chances against the Imperial Guard."

"Hmm... Can the Northern Dragon Corps handle guns?"

"The Northern Dragon Corps used the latest Ming Empire tech on the front lines. They're familiar with guns and cannons. Give them time, and they'll train quickly."

Mang Ryang's eyes gleamed.

"Even if only three thousand of the Northern Dragon Corps operate as musketeers, the war's nature will change drastically!"

"......"

I didn't quite get it. I'd experienced war and guns firsthand, but could a group wielding them wield such great power? The fast reloading impressed me, but their strength in a grand battle of hundreds of thousands was unclear. Yet Mang Ryang sensed something extraordinary in that gun.

Jin So-cheong, displeased, said,

"Mang Ryang, strengthening the Northern Dragon Corps is good, but we can't be sure General Hwang Yeon or the Twelve Laws Lord will follow our will to the end. They're all hegemons of their generation, figures who manipulate eras, so they might act differently at crucial moments."

"Of course. Especially the Twelve Laws Lord warrants caution."

Mang Ryang continued,

"But as long as we hold the Seven Essentials, the Twelve Laws Lord can't betray us. We can restrain him until then."

"Twelve Laws Lord... No idea what he's thinking."

"I don't know either, but I sensed something interesting at the last meeting."

"Interesting?"

As Jin So-cheong and I focused on him, Mang Ryang fiddled with his hands and said,

"He seemed to manage the world with a long-term vision."

"What do you mean?"

"Like observing human affairs from on high? More precisely, he moved pieces without haste, as if immortal. It felt like the cunning ways of an extremely old fox."

"Hmm..."

"His appearance is that of a twenty-something youth, but he might be incredibly ancient."

Could the Twelve Laws Lord be a rejuvenated elder too?

As I pondered inwardly, Jin So-cheong said,

"Baek Woong, an expert has come."

At his words, Mang Ryang and I snapped to attention, extending our senses around the campfire. But even though my senses could detect stealth arts within forty paces, I felt nothing. The intruder seemed farther away, perceivable only to Jin So-cheong's intuition.

I asked quietly,

"Strong?"

"...Very."

Jin So-cheong replied bitterly, then continued,

"I'll talk to him. Baek Woong, you watch."

Who could make Jin So-cheong say this?

I was puzzled, but the answer soon came. The middle-aged man emerging from the brush had a face I could never forget, even in dreams. With his well-honed physique exuding an aura sharp as frost, he stared at Jin So-cheong and said,

"You destroyed the Nangong Family."

"Yes."

"I heard Sword King Nangong Myeong was a man worth killing. And recently, his son, Soaring Heaven Sword Nangong Hwan, was stoned by women in the marketplace and died by thousand cuts and myriad dismemberments."

"I'm sorry for killing your friend."

"No matter. I never considered that bastard family kin anyway. In fact, I'm grateful."

The middle-aged man spoke slowly, then continued slowly,

"I know you take responsibility for your actions. But aren't the ones beside you leading you astray?"

"......"

Jin So-cheong fell silent before replying,

"Absolutely not. These two are Mang Ryang and Baek Woong—my benefactors. They're helping me walk the path of justice."

"I see. Indeed, exceptional men."

The middle-aged man replied deeply, his eyes flashing.

"But I can no longer stand by. Any more attention risks the Thunder God Style's revival, so follow me back to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall."

It was him.

The master of Jin So-cheong and me, bound by a century of enmity—Azure Dragon Lee Gwang had appeared.

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