Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

The White Lotus Leader had pointed to me!

I was so flabbergasted that for a moment, I had no idea what to say. Forgetting I was even in front of the White Lotus Leader, I shot to my feet and blurted out.

"I lack the qualifications for that."

[Why?]

"Jin So-cheong's talent far surpasses mine."

The White Lotus Leader fell silent for a moment at my words before speaking.

[That's not a factor for me. I want you, Baek Woong, as my disciple.]

"...?!"

[It's fine. Just accept. You have the Pure Language Pearl anyway, so you can contact us anytime.]

Mang Liang had apparently anticipated this. Only then did I regain my composure and prostrate myself before the White Lotus Leader.

"My apologies. I was flustered and made a mistake. I am grateful for Your Greatness's grace."

[Good...]

The White Lotus Leader trailed off before ringing the Six Harmonies Divine Voice.

[Mang Liang, you are appointed as the friendly protector accompanying the Thunder God Style's guardian beast. Jin So-cheong, you are appointed as the left protector. You were originally comrades, so aid each other in advancing the cult.]

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

[Then I shall issue your first mission.]

The White Lotus Leader's first mission!

We perked up our ears at his command. Without stirring an inch, he continued.

[Gather the Thunder God Style scattered across the Central Plains and bring them back to the cult.]

Was it as expected? It was a natural order, but an incredibly difficult one. Even we had entered harboring daggers in our hearts—would the Thunder God Style inheritors, their resentment toward the White Lotus Cult at its peak, truly heed such words? That impossibility was why we'd agonized over choosing between the Thunder God Style and the White Lotus Cult.

Mang Liang stepped forward and spoke.

"Cult Leader. I have something to say."

[Speak, Mang Liang.]

"Simply telling the Thunder God Style inheritors to return will only lead to clashes by force, and we lack the power to subdue them one by one. If you prepare some reward for them, we will carry out the mission with all our might."

[Hmm...]

The White Lotus Leader seemed to ponder Mang Liang's words briefly before replying.

[Assure them of high positions within the cult and transmit Yi Cheong-un's legacy arts. This is a pledge upon my honor.]

"......!"

[Most will return then.]

It was said so casually, but Mang Liang beside me was beading sweat on his forehead. He seemed to sense the terror because he had somewhat grasped the Leader's intent. Mang Liang barely managed to reply.

"Understood."

[If you successfully complete the mission, I shall bestow the Heavenly Spirit Pill.]

Heavenly Spirit Pill!

I couldn't help letting out a groan at those words. A pill that fully channeled a god's power, granting a supreme body capable of drawing on infinite inner energy! It was a temptation no warrior could easily resist. Hadn't our entire journey to the White Lotus Cult been to uncover the method of obtaining it?

'What is this? The conditions are too generous!'

No matter how I thought about it, this wasn't a proposal the ruler of the world would make to the remnants of the newly joined Thunder God Style. It felt more like negotiating with an equal opponent. Even if the White Lotus Leader had laid down no conditions or rewards and just threatened us to get it done, we were in no position to argue. That's why I couldn't help suspecting his true intentions.

"I will definitely accomplish it."

[Good.]

The White Lotus Leader murmured in satisfaction before pointing at me with his index finger.

[The protectors may withdraw. Guardian beast protector Baek Woong, follow me.]

"Yes."

Soon, Mang Liang and Jin So-cheong were led away by the elders. I had no choice but to remain prostrated there awkwardly. He said to follow, but the White Lotus Leader had vanished behind me—how was I supposed to?

Yet moments later, a voice brushed past like a whisper.

This way.

Whoosh!

Startled by the voice grazing my ear, I whipped around, but nothing was there. The White Lotus Leader's form from within the hall had already vanished. Realizing he had passed me at superhuman speed while leaving his voice, chills ran down my spine.

'A monster...!'

Over the past century, I'd relentlessly honed my martial arts, reaching a level where I could rival the Central Plains' top experts without issue. My dynamic vision and energy sense far surpassed ordinary martial artists—I could even detect the existence of a transcendent expert's swift sword in an instant—yet the White Lotus Leader's movement hadn't just been invisible; it hadn't even registered!

Even at the maximum speed of my Annihilation Step, I couldn't guarantee I could match that movement. My intuition told me I might not even keep up with half of it. From that fact, I realized one more despairing truth.

Right now, I was nothing more than a one-strike kill to the White Lotus Leader.

A single casual hand blade as he passed would have surely taken my head.

The mountain was too high. How much more training would it take to face such a monster? I bit my lip hard and followed the White Lotus Leader's energy. The direction he indicated pulsed with his vast aura, as if painted purple, making it easy to track.

After about fifty paces, I arrived at a garden bursting with flowers. It was an artificially crafted beautiful garden, with trees planted here and there. So exquisitely shaped, it was like a single fragrant painting in full bloom.

The White Lotus Leader stood in the center, quietly gazing up at a tree. His attire matched what I'd seen in the imperial palace showdown: a purple robe embroidered with golden threads, a coronet on his head. His face was covered by a blank mask devoid of any expression or features.

The White Lotus Leader asked me.

[Baek Woong. Do you know what this tree is?]

I glanced at the tree. From its lush leaves and shape, it could only be one species. I quietly replied.

"It's a Dragon Flower Tree."

Dragon Flower Trees weren't rare, visible in various places. Also called Bodhi trees, they were large with impressive cascading leaves. I knew they originated from the Western Regions. The White Lotus Leader stroked the Dragon Flower Tree as he spoke.

[Unlike this common Dragon Flower Tree, I once sought the true one. But now, I no longer need it—and for that, I feel no small gratitude toward you all.]

"......"

If I'd joined the White Lotus Cult without any information, I'd have found those words puzzling. But I knew he'd sent his lesser leader south of the Southern Man to collect legends to cure the lesser leader's strange illness, and behind it lay knowledge of the Dragon Flower Tree's divine power.

The Dragon Flower Tree was the legendary tree said in Buddhism to be where the Future Buddha would descend, also the sacred tree of the White Lotus Cult. The White Lotus Leader, pondering how to cure his lesser leader's illness, had decided on a grand offering to the Deathless Old Mother, seeking a Dragon Flower Tree worthy as the sacrifice. But since I'd given him the Black and White Lotus, the illness was cured, rendering the tree unnecessary.

The White Lotus Leader continued.

[You're wondering why I chose you as my disciple.]

"Yes, I am."

[I could tell at a glance that Jin So-cheong's talent is superior, even without Mang Liang saying it. At his age, he's already surpassed the Intent Severing Realm—I've seen such talent only once in my life.]

Who could he mean?

As I wondered inwardly, the White Lotus Leader spoke.

[Yet I find you far more intriguing.]

"Why is that?"

[Did you think I wouldn't notice Mang Liang and Jin So-cheong trying to divert my interest to you? I could also guess that while Jin So-cheong acts as the center, you're the true leader guiding the group. And yet your skills are weaker than Jin So-cheong's, your intellect inferior to Mang Liang's... Quite intriguing.]

"......"

It hurt.

Somehow, his blunt statements of fact stung. Fitting for the leader commanding a massive organization, he'd seen through our dynamics at a glance. Wryly inwardly, I said.

"Will you kill me?"

In such cases, martial factions typically purged all suspects. Who would welcome a lurking expert with hidden motives? Bracing for the end of this life, I squeezed my eyes shut, but the White Lotus Leader calmly replied.

[I do not toy with people lightly. Especially not talented ones like you—wasting that would be a pity. Removing enemies is easy, but making allies is hard, so I do not act rashly. Worry not.]

"Hmm..."

In that moment, I felt the White Lotus Leader's magnanimity. Beneath that calm tone lay absolute confidence and self-esteem, along with the leisure and style of a hegemon. He even held the firm belief that no matter our efforts, we'd submit to him—leaving me deflated.

'As expected of the absolute ruler of the world's strongest martial force...!'

In vessel alone, he surpassed anyone I'd seen. Comparable only to the Twelve Lords, perhaps?

As I inwardly admired him, the White Lotus Leader spoke.

[If you intend to use the White Lotus Cult, that's fine too. Nay, I welcome those with the power to be of use. Only then are you worth my recognition.]

"I have no intention of betraying the White Lotus Cult."

[Heh heh heh...]

Letting out an enigmatic laugh, the White Lotus Leader suddenly placed his hand on the Dragon Flower Tree.

Crackle!

"Gasp!"

I jolted in shock. The towering Dragon Flower Tree, over ten feet tall, shriveled in an instant into withered wood. It was unmistakably drained of vitality all at once—I couldn't help gasping.

Whoosh!

The astonishment didn't end there. As the White Lotus Leader swept his hand over the tree again, the withered Dragon Flower Tree visibly writhed, regaining its life force.

Authority over life and death!

The power to freely absorb and create the energy of all things left me stunned. It wasn't an exaggeration to call it the legendary Soul Absorption Great Law—in fact, it might surpass the original.

Having demonstrated this bizarre feat of killing and reviving the Dragon Flower Tree once, the White Lotus Leader spoke.

[Baek Woong. What do you think qi is?]

It was an abrupt question. I pondered deeply before answering.

"It's the power pervading all things in the world, the source sustaining life, the driving force producing superhuman strength."

[That's how the martial world generally defines it.]

"Is that not so?"

[......]

After a brief silence, the White Lotus Leader gazed at the sky.

[In pursuing the martial pinnacle through countless trainings, I realized one thing. My achieved Primordial Spirit Body did not originate from the Divine Void—that is, the Great Void.]

"What do you mean...?"

[The Great Void refers to qi. Great Void is qi; the dispersed form of qi is the Great Void.]

With that, the White Lotus Leader suddenly pointed a finger at the sky.

[Behold. What lies at the end of this world.]

Nothing was visible.

I couldn't even comprehend what he meant.

To me, the White Lotus Leader's words sounded like the ravings of a madman. Yet they clearly spoke of transcendent martial realms, filling me with self-loathing. As I hesitated, he lowered his finger and continued.

[You cannot understand now. However... there is one person in the world who comprehended the Great Void. He had even reached the Four Tribulations...]

"Who is that?"

[He is dead now.]

After the curt reply, the White Lotus Leader fell into silence. It was a silence verging on violent pressure enveloping the surroundings. Just being in that space felt like it would drive me mad from the oppression. His emitted intent chilled my danger sense to the bone, as if my brain were melting!

Silent madness.

When that silence ended, the White Lotus Leader had vanished like a mirage before my eyes. Lingering in the air was the Six Harmonies Divine Voice he'd left.

[Come find me after the mission. Then, I shall finish today's tale.]

Thud!

"Hah... hah..."

I collapsed there. Raising my trembling hand, I clutched the dirt floor—even that was difficult, my hand shaking uncontrollably.

"Hah..."

So high.

He hadn't even harbored killing intent; merely unfolding his true realm's majesty had been enough to overwhelm me amid its ever-shifting forms. Unintentionally creating a space equivalent to Intent Severing—this meant the Leader's realm had reached mind-as-reality, freely altering the surroundings at will.

I felt like crying.

'Jin So-cheong. Can you really do it? Can you reach such a monstrous being?'

No, that's not it.

My worry wasn't whether Jin So-cheong could reach the White Lotus Leader.

It was terrifying that even such a White Lotus Leader was but an insect before a true god. Vivid memories remained of the absolute ruler of the martial world being pathetically slain by a god. My goal was too distant.

Could I... truly defeat the [Ancient Ruler]?

"......"

I gripped the dirt tightly. Then, steeling my legs once more and biting my lip, I stood.

"Damn it... No choice!"

I had to.

I would.

As long as this reincarnation and my life allowed, I would create a future where my comrades could be happy. I would ensure we never fell victim to some absolute being's whims again. That was my resolve.

Even if defeating a god was laughable—it was the same.

Because I would never give up.

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