Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

After the prophet's deal concluded, I headed to Dragon King's Valley to hear Dokgo Seong's answer.

I could hop on the Four Buddha Statue and head straight to the Western Regions right now, but the problem was that I had no idea what kind of place this holy site housing Geumyo actually was.

The Four Buddha Statue could take me to even places I'd never been, but when I asked it just moments ago, its response was this.

[ The place called holy site Pallas does not exist in this world. ]

"What the hell?"

[ It means it doesn't exist anywhere the Heavenly Realm's gaze reaches. That's it. ]

With that, the Four Buddha Statue refused to transport me.

'Geumyo's seal isn't in this world?'

[ It's the stronghold of magicians and alchemists. Naturally, they'd seal away something precious like Geumyo in another realm and guard it. Even the Heavenly Realm wouldn't have any intel on a place like that. ]

[ Then what do we do? ]

[ What else? Track down a magician who knows about that mundus. ]

[ Mundus? ]

[ The Westerners divide worlds into mundus. ]

Zhuge Sa replied curtly.

[ Forget about Geumyo for now. Focus on White Lotus Church. Dig into that later. ]

[ Got it. ]

I ordered some thin noodles and chicken, then waited until dawn broke.

Once I'd calmly restored my qi and stamina, I went to meet Dokgo Seong.

As I entered the interior of Dragon King's Valley, Dokgo Seong stood tall, waiting for me.

He stared right through me before speaking.

"I'm returning to White Lotus Church."

"Good choice."

"......"

He stared right through me again, then asked a question.

"Baek Woong. Do you think it would be fine if the Leader unified the world?"

I couldn't easily discern the intent behind his question.

But judging by Zhuge Sa staying silent, it seemed like I just needed to give my honest opinion.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts before replying.

"At the very least, it'd be better than the current emperor. The current emperor is an unparalleled tyrant, an evildoer willing to offer humans as living sacrifices without a second thought. The White Lotus Leader is insidious, but he has a certain restraint about him—he won't cross the line."

"Is that really true?"

"Eh?"

I looked at Dokgo Seong in response to his sharp rejoinder.

Dokgo Seong made no effort to hide his conflicted expression as he spoke.

"I've observed my uncle for a long time, but I still can't properly judge his limits or true nature. No one can predict what he'll do once he reaches the realm of absolute invincibility."

"What are you getting at?"

"When the time comes, I plan to drive a blade into my uncle's back."

Dokgo Seong's eyes gleamed sharply as he calmly uttered those chilling words.

"I'd like your help when that day arrives."

I could read Dokgo Seong's true feelings in those words.

'He figures I'll betray the Leader someday. And he's hoping to join forces with me then.'

It wasn't wrong, so I nodded and replied to him.

"Of course. But until then, stay loyal to White Lotus Church."

"Understood."

Once our conversation wrapped up, I returned to White Lotus Church alongside Dokgo Seong.

Flash.

After bringing Dokgo Seong to the Leader's Hall, I soon came face to face with the Leader.

"Leader! The mission is complete."

The Leader, peering at us from beyond the curtain in the audience chamber, sent over a transmission of True Qi Voice.

[ You've brought Seong. Did you deliver the letter? ]

"Yes! I delivered it without fail."

[ Well done... ]

The Leader fell silent for a moment before speaking.

[ Seong, I'm pleased that you've come to assist me. ]

Dokgo Seong glared toward the curtain with sunken eyes before replying.

"Leader, I haven't forgotten the atrocities you committed against us."

[ Is that so... ]

"It won't just be me."

The Leader seemed to let out a faint chuckle at those words.

[ Heh heh... We'll see... I'm rather looking forward to the day the Thunder God Clan comes for revenge. ]

"......"

[ But not today. From now on, you'll assist in my research. ]

Having declared as much, the Leader addressed me.

[ I have matters to discuss with Seong. Leave us. ]

"As you command."

[ I won't summon you again today. You're free to act as you wish. ]

I exited the audience chamber and headed for the Thunder God Clan's building.

When I entered to finally give my weary body some rest, I spotted someone standing in front of my room.

She spoke upon seeing me.

"Long time no see."

"Han Baekryeong..."

Standing in my way was none other than Han Baekryeong, the Fire God Clan's guardian warrior.

She'd slipped in without a sound, brushed her back hair back behind her neck, and said:

"I came because I have business to discuss. Surely you can spare a cup of tea?"

"......"

"Don't call for anyone."

I had no idea why she'd come.

But there was no harm in talking, so I nodded.

"Very well."

I prepared some tea.

Clink.

Once Han Baekryeong and I were seated across from each other, she cut straight to the chase.

"Baek Woong. You don't need to keep sheltering the Wind God Clan scum. Just boot them out."

"......!!"

"The Leader won't object—they were your property to begin with."

What the hell was this?

Her sudden demand to cast out the Wind God Clan left me suspecting her ulterior motives.

But with no further details yet, I furrowed my brow and retorted.

"What's this all about out of nowhere?"

"It's simple. Harboring the Wind God Clan is nothing but a liability."

I glanced around before saying.

"You're being careless. They say the walls have ears at night—why bring that up so casually here..."

Han Baekryeong let out a smirk.

"Do you take me for a fool? I've already erected a qi barrier around us. No one can eavesdrop. I just hate chattering via True Qi Voice, so I set it up like this."

"Hmm!"

Upon closely examining the qi around us, I confirmed a massive flow of qi encircling the area in a sphere.

It seemed designed to block out sound.

But creating a space like this demanded inner strength beyond what any ordinary martial artist could imagine.

This was only possible because Han Baekryeong possessed a Heavenly Spirit Pill.

I spoke cautiously.

"Why is it a liability? Explain."

"The Leader wiped out Yong Bicheon, but the Wind God Clan hasn't been eradicated yet. Yong Jungji—Yong Bicheon's successor and the clan's second-in-command—is still kicking as the sect leader of Yellow Mountain Sect, one of the Central Plains' Nine Great Righteous Sects."

"Hmm..."

"With Yong Jungji's cunning and schemes, he could collide with the Wind God Clan remnants inside White Lotus Church and stir up no end of trouble."

"So you're saying we should uproot the source of future problems by kicking them out of White Lotus Church now?"

"Exactly."

"......"

Yong Jungji!

In my eyes, his martial realm surpassed even Yong Bicheon's—excluding those with Heavenly Spirit Pills.

Even Jin So-cheong, who had razid the Nangong Family with his bare hands, would need steeling his resolve to face him.

He'd reached a true pinnacle incomparable to ordinary peak experts.

On top of his prowess, he wielded wisdom, cunning, and prudence to match.

As long as Yong Jungji lived, the Wind God Clan could not be considered truly destroyed.

Han Baekryeong's argument rang true, but her motives still felt suspect.

Keeping my guard up, I replied.

"It makes sense, but why come tell me this in person? If it's necessary, the Leader will order it himself."

"The Leader is buried in his Seven Great Absolute Arts research. Wouldn't it be better to handle such minor matters preemptively?"

"......"

"Heh heh, such suspicious eyes."

Han Baekryeong took a sip of tea before continuing.

"Right. That was just a suggestion—an overture. The real discussion starts now."

"What discussion?"

"Baek Woong. Do you believe that obtaining a Heavenly Spirit Pill would let you surpass the Leader down the line?"

"Hmm."

I let out a groan before replying.

"Probably not. The Leader's Primordial Spirit vastly outclasses a Heavenly Spirit Pill..."

"I've also acquired intel that the Leader has multiple Heavenly Spirit Pill bearers planted in his Guard Corps."

"......"

"Baek Woong... I've come here to ask you a tremendous favor."

Han Baekryeong's eyes burned fiercely as she spoke.

"In the event... that the Leader loses control... wouldn't you want to know his greatest weakness—the surest way to stop him?"

"......!!"

I realized then that this was the true purpose.

The Leader's weakness!

Was Han Baekryeong claiming to know it?

I stared straight through her before letting out a groan.

"Hmm... what exactly are you scheming?"

Han Baekryeong shook her head in apparent disappointment.

"Judging by how you're dodging, it seems you have no intention of answering today."

"No, that's not—"

Han Baekryeong rose from her chair and whipped her head away as she spoke.

"Fine, even later is good. If my offer intrigues you, give me your answer then."

Flash.

Han Baekryeong vanished in an instant, like a burst of flame.

The qi barrier encircling us had dissipated as well.

I stood there dumbfounded by her abrupt visit when Zhuge Sa, who had watched silently until then, finally spoke.

[ Well, that was handled adequately. ]

[ Should I have heard her out to the end? ]

[ No. You responded correctly just now. That vixen is a crafty one—nothing gets settled on a first meeting. ]

[...The Leader's weakness... ]

Zhuge Sa chuckled deeply.

[ Seeing the Wind God Clan purged probably made it feel personal. You remember what Yong Bicheon said, right? ]

[ Of course. ]

[ I think he was the only one? Do you suppose Han Baekryeong fully trusted the Leader? That crafty fox must have been two times more anxious. ]

[...... ]

It was a valid point.

[ Unlike Yong Bicheon, Han Baekryeong hasn't reached out to outside forces. Instead, she's spent decades observing the Leader from up close, hunting for weaknesses. That's her own contingency plan. ]

[ So you're saying there's a high chance she actually knows the Leader's weakness? ]

[ More like a near certainty. For her to come sneaking in like this means she's not here to scheme. She intents that you're a massive wildcard capable of upending the current board—which is why she came with genuine intent. It's not something she can delegate to another. ]

[ Hmm. ]

Zhuge Sa spoke firmly.

[ She won't approach you directly again. If you want to hear more, you'll need to make contact. ]

[ When would be best? ]

[ When the palace envoys arrive soon after. The Leader's attention will be divided then. ]

[ There's something else I'm wondering about. ]

I crossed my arms and cocked my head.

[ Are we really in the clear after threatening Zhuge Bu that hard? I'm still uneasy. ]

Zhuge Bu had placed a tracking spell on the Nameless Sacrifice Scripture, so he surely knew I'd gone to the prophet in Astana when I took it.

He might even have linked the spell to track my current location.

No matter my current level, clashing with Zhuge Bu would be a life-or-death gamble—which was why I couldn't shake the anxiety.

Zhuge Sa chuckled deeply.

[ He knows the might of the Divorce Great Law. He grasps that if it's on him, survival wouldn't mean truly living. Especially with the Yin-Yang Heaven Prison layered on top—he absolutely can't confess his state to Vermilion Bird Zhuge Yulong. A fool might cling to the slimmest hope, but he's clever, so he won't dare act prematurely. ]

[ So we're good for the time being. ]

[ More than good. He's practically your slave now. Squeeze him for all he's worth going forward. ]

Zhuge Sa spoke up as if struck by a sudden thought.

[ Right. Use the Divorce Great Law to share senses with him. That'd be ideal. ]

[ Right now? ]

[ Give it a shot. ]

[ Alright. ]

Sss.

I drew forth the qi of the Divorce Great Law and began resonating with Zhuge Bu's soul, thousands of li distant.

Soon, his soul qi pressed intensely against my skin, and I felt Zhuge Bu's senses flooding into my body.

Keeping my mind steady to allow the sharing, I sensed a profound unity overlaying us.

[ Sight... hearing... that's as far as it goes for now. Full sharing of smell and touch will take time. ]

Indeed.

At that moment, I was experiencing whatever Zhuge Bu was seeing and hearing, thousands of li away.

The sights before my eyes were Zhuge Bu's own.

Zhuge Bu was traversing some mountain path.

He was scaling a somewhat treacherous cliff, apparently without attendants.

As he climbed higher, snow began accumulating from the chill, and a vast white landscape filled the view.

'Where is this?'

It felt familiar somehow.

About half a shichen passed that way.

Zhuge Bu halted his steps, flung a talisman into the air, and suddenly shouted.

"Open!"

Flash.

A translucent membrane rippled in the empty air for a moment.

Then, astonishingly, a new path materialized where the cliff had been severed!

Zhuge Bu proceeded slowly into it.

One shichen later, he arrived at a bizarre altar heaped with piles of stones.

Zhuge Bu bowed his head respectfully toward the figure seated upon the altar and spoke.

"Father. An emissary from White Lotus Church has arrived."

The figure, who had been sitting motionless, glanced sidelong at Zhuge Bu.

The instant I made out his face, my teeth ground together.

Vermilion Bird Zhuge Yulong!

Zhuge Bu had clearly come to see the Vermilion Bird on Mount Tai.

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