Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Rooaar—

The water dragon coiled in midair before suddenly sprouting nine heads. With each new head, additional water dragons materialized, plummeting back toward the ground. Each impact unleashed deafening explosions, shattering buildings and turning the area into a scene of utter chaos.

"Arghhh!"

"Run!!"

Screams filled the air as destructive water dragons ravaged everything in sight. It seemed Dokgo Jun was controlling them. Upon closer inspection, the dragons were formed of water yet exploded on contact. Even so, each one packed tremendous destructive power, leaving me inwardly chilled.

"Truly infinite internal energy."

Those water dragons were undoubtedly crafted from qi, but how much energy did it take to create even one? To wield nine at once while hovering in the air with a technique—where was the limit of the Heavenly Spirit Pill? Dokgo Jun's power seemed utterly beyond human.

Kaboom!

[This isn't the time to head there.]

[What am I supposed to do?]

[Follow the plan step by step. Complete the cult leader's task first. You can train on the side.]

[Train?]

[Infuse spiritual power into the bracelet you just received.]

Whumm.

I channeled my spiritual power into the bracelet. A yellow gem embedded in the silver band glowed with an eye-shaped pattern, and a sinister yin energy crept up my forearm. At the same time, something malevolent seemed to whisper in my ear.

I frowned in disgust, and Zhuge Sa said,

[Form the contract and summon the hunting hound. It's useful for scouting or whatever.]

[How?]

[Just agree to the whisper.]

I aligned my will with the whisper from the bracelet. Though I didn't understand the two-legged race's language, complying with its intent made the bracelet shine brighter. Moments later, yellow light burst forth, and a grotesque demon appeared before me.

Grrrowl...

It was emaciated. More like a bat than anything else? One thing was certain—it wasn't a natural creature. Hell, it was questionable if it was alive at all. With each blink, it flickered like a candle flame, subtly shifting its form. It exuded a more ominous aura than any two-legged race member or demon I'd faced before.

[Command it.]

Krah!

Moments later, the "hunting hound" folded like paper in space and vanished. Following Zhuge Sa's instructions, I'd ordered it to [find the treasures]. The way it disappeared was so eerie that my heart sank. It felt like physical attacks wouldn't even faze it.

"What the hell is that...?"

[You lack talent in sorcery, so normal training would take too long to gain power. This bracelet lets you contract a demon beast as a shortcut. That hunting hound is the worst kind of tracker, dwelling in the corners of time.]

The description was unnerving.

"Isn't it dangerous?"

[The bracelet's fine, so no issue. If it breaks, it'll pop out from the corners and attack you until you die...]

Zhuge Sa casually dropped the horrifying detail and continued.

[I ordered it to find the treasures, so intel will flow into your head soon. Once you have it, use the Four Not Statues to grab all the auction treasures at once. Then you can link up with the Water God Style. No rush.]

"The Water God Style came to attack the Wind God Style, right?"

[Something like that.]

Zhuge Sa cackled.

[Anyway, handle your task first. It'll make you look diligent.]

"Got it."

Kreeen!

The next instant, the vanished "hunting hounds" sent a signal. Simultaneously, the information they gathered flooded my mind—locations and details of auction items throughout the slave market, all etched perfectly into my brain. It seemed they could share visual data with me.

I swiftly summoned the Four Not Statues and began recovering the treasures.

"The cult leader gave me the neck pouch for this."

Flash.

"This is mine now."

As I suddenly appeared and swept gold, jewels, and auction piles into the neck pouch, a waiting Wind God Style warrior panicked and shouted.

"W-What are you!"

"Kill him!"

Wind God Style experts and mysterious masters lunged at me. I was curious about the masked figures in white robes, but identifying their sword strikes and energy signatures revealed their identities instantly.

"Jade Uniform Guards."

As expected, the slave market auctions were a collaboration between the Wind God Style and the imperial palace. I effortlessly dodged the combined assault of five Jade Uniform Guards and three Wind God Style experts for about five exchanges, then unleashed Thunderclap to subdue them all at once.

Thud thud thud!

In the first instant, three were pummeled unconscious. In the second, three more had their acupoints sealed. The last two dodged my strikes only to get knocked out by my scabbard. It happened so fast no one else dared intervene. They were renowned experts in the martial world, yet taking them down was child's play.

I grinned at the auction managers staring in terror.

"Get lost quick, or your heads might roll."

"Argh!"

With the guards fleeing without a trace, I leisurely looted the auction house. After hitting about six spots this way, I realized the neck pouch was nicely filled—I'd recovered all the treasures the hunting hounds had marked.

"That wraps up the hunting hounds' intel."

I bolted toward the spot where the Water God Style had gone to fight. I was curious about the outcome of their group clash.

Rumble...

The area thrummed with clashing auras. Traces of battle—bloodstains, corpses—were scattered everywhere, suggesting an initial skirmish. Now it was a standoff.

Numbers were roughly 150 to 20, with the Wind God Style holding a sevenfold advantage. The Water God Style experts stood silently arrayed behind Dokgo Jun, while their foes looked thoroughly fatigued.

At the forefront, glares locked: the White Lotus Cult's Dharma Protectors. The space between them was already devastated from several exchanges.

Wind God Style Dharma Protector Yong Bi-cheon glared at Dokgo Jun and bellowed.

"Dokgo Jun! What is the meaning of this?!"

Wearing his golden dragon mask, Dokgo Jun replied flatly via Six Harmonies True Voice. No audible words.

[I'm carrying out the cult leader's orders, traitor.]

"...?!"

Yong Bi-cheon flinched at "traitor." Dokgo Jun continued without emotion.

[Yong Bi-cheon. Did you think the cult leader knew nothing?]

"I have no idea what you mean."

[We already know you colluded with the imperial palace and struck some deal. We know you traded with them for demonic power. And that you're amassing wealth by running slave markets like this...]

"......"

[You're a traitor.]

Yong Bi-cheon clenched his fists in silence. Bewilderment flickered in his eyes—he hadn't expected Dokgo Jun to declare it so bluntly. For the Water God Style Dharma Protector to call him out meant the entire White Lotus Cult was now the Wind God Style's enemy.

After a pause, he broke the silence and glared at Dokgo Jun.

"Traitor? Then what does that make the cult leader?"

Murmurs.

The Wind God Style experts behind him were shocked. The Dharma Protector had addressed the cult leader without honorifics. But Dokgo Jun remained impassive, staring emotionlessly.

Yong Bi-cheon growled.

"He hands out Heavenly Spirit Pills like charity without explaining the contract, hides his Primordial Spirit Realm, favors only the Water God Style in the cult, makes major decisions as internal Water God Style or Elder Council matters, and relegates us Wind God Style to the fringes!"

[Is that so.]

"The cult leader is a tyrant who turned our thousand-year White Lotus Cult into his private army! I only wanted to save the Wind God Style."

Yong Bi-cheon's shout boiled with rage. He'd hidden his fury all along. Soon, his killing intent intensified.

"Khahaha... Even if the cult leader's our enemy now, bringing only twenty men was a mistake."

[I don't see how.]

Dokgo Jun tilted his head indifferently.

[Yong Bi-cheon, you can't beat me.]

"......"

To say it so openly.

Everyone here likely knew the power dynamic, but Dokgo Jun crushed Yong Bi-cheon's pride without a care. All knew he was the strongest of the three Dharma Protectors, but his arrogance was off the charts.

Yong Bi-cheon retorted.

"I can't beat you, but I have a Heavenly Spirit Pill too. If I hold you off, I'm confident I can last at least a thousand exchanges."

[...Probably.]

"And these are the Wind God Style's elites and elders. I'd say over eighty percent of our full strength is here."

I assessed the Wind God Style experts behind him. Despite facing off against the cult, they showed no fear—each an exceptional master. Yong Bi-cheon's claim rang true.

As Dokgo Jun stared silently, Yong Bi-cheon pressed on.

"Plus, the Jade Uniform Guard's commander and six divisions are here. While I keep you busy, it'll all be over!"

The Jade Uniform Guards among the Wind God Style numbered plenty. Considering their Tiger Commander level, they were no small force. And the commander behind him, White Tiger, was a bona fide transcendent expert.

I understood Yong Bi-cheon's confidence.

"The Water God Style's at a disadvantage."

Seven-to-one odds, pressured by elites in formation—the outcome was obvious. Even if Water God Style's average was higher, the Wind God Style could handle it as one of the Four Divine Styles. Those twenty would be overwhelmed by sheer numbers!

The Jade Uniform Guards were wild cards too. Worst case, government troops could arrive soon to back the Wind God Style—maybe thousands of ironclad cavalry encircling the Water God Style later.

Biding my time, I pulled three Water God Style experts from the neck pouch.

"Hm..."

They blinked in confusion at appearing on the battlefield but quickly grasped the situation and joined the ranks silently.

Yong Bi-cheon clenched his fists, glaring murderously at Dokgo Jun.

"No helping it now. You won't leave here alive."

[Unlikey.]

"What?"

Dokgo Jun crossed his arms nonchalantly.

[I'll point out your two misconceptions.]

"Misconceptions...?"

[Yes, misconceptions.]

It felt like Dokgo Jun smirked behind his mask. He extended his hand, raising one index finger.

[First: Yong Bi-cheon, you can't last a thousand exchanges against me.]

Fuming, Yong Bi-cheon shot back.

"We'll see about that."

[You're thinking of our past spar, ended in fifteen hundred exchanges? Sorry, but I've grown since then. You'll see how foolish that is firsthand.]

"All talk..."

As Yong Bi-cheon started to shout, Dokgo Jun extended his middle finger—two fingers up.

[Second: Our forces outmatch yours. You can't win.]

"......"

Yong Bi-cheon stared blankly before bursting into loud laughter.

"Khahahahaha!! You're insane! Blind to the situation? I don't care your men's level—they can't top Wind God Style elders! Don't tell me you trained top experts in a short time...? Pahahaha!!"

Yong Bi-cheon had a point. He had over ten elder-grade experts behind him, each stronger than Lee Gwang at minimum. The hidden old masters of Wind God or Fire God Styles were elders. No way Water God Style mass-produced transcendent experts.

Chuckles...

Wind God Style and Jade Uniform Guards smirked in agreement. Fully encircling the Water God Style with overwhelming numbers—they couldn't lose.

[Hoo.]

Ignoring them, Dokgo Jun turned to me and said,

[Baek Woong, Dharma Protector. Recovery mission complete?]

"Of course. Just irksome using me as bait."

[Apologies. He's a sly fox—hard to catch otherwise.]

Dokgo Jun's tone was casual, like he was out for a stroll. Stunned, I said,

"Can't you see the situation? We're surrounded, about to die, and you're this relaxed?"

Breaking through head-on would be brutal. I could hold my own somewhat, but if the Wind God Style elders formed an array against me, it'd be hellish. I'd end up fleeing via Four Not Statues. What gave these Water God Style experts such composure?

Dokgo Jun replied,

[No worries. No need for the cult leader to intervene personally. Time to wrap this up.]

Snap.

He snapped his fingers, and three Water God Style experts stepped forward. Dokgo Jun ordered,

[Wipe them out.]

[As you command.]

The three charged straight into the array of over a hundred experts!

Their first target: Yong Bi-cheon. Realizing it, he shouted in disbelief.

[Mayfly trash! Daring to challenge a Dharma Protector...]

His Six Harmonies True Voice boomed as terrifying wind orbs summoned around him. Yong Bi-cheon whipped them at the three with ferocious speed, unleashing a dragon twister that shredded the air.

Kaboom!

The wind orbs' explosive might and twister were near-natural disasters. But what happened next made me doubt my eyes.

Thud!

One Water God Style expert conjured a water dragon in midair as a wall, blocking the orbs. The other two rode its momentum, soaring at Yong Bi-cheon. He panicked mid-telekinetic strike, creating clones to evade the charge—but hundreds of water spears filled every escape.

Perfect coordination. Blood sprayed from Yong Bi-cheon's shoulder. The spears pierced his protective aura effortlessly. Before one exchange ended, the three reformed water into liquid aura forms and struck simultaneously.

Boom!!

Yong Bi-cheon barely blocked but shifted fully defensive, minor wounds dotting his upper body. Looking utterly defeated, he cried out in shock.

[Ins... insane. No way... you lot...!!]

One charging Water God Style expert replied mid-telekinetic exchange.

[Dharma Protector, what's so surprising?]

[Urk...]

[That power was granted by the cult leader. Why assume we couldn't use it?]

Kaboom!!

Yong Bi-cheon reeled wildly under their assault, flung backward.

My hands trembled watching. Shock and awe swept me like Yong Bi-cheon. Unbidden, the unbelievable truth slipped out.

"Heavenly Spirit Pills..."

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