Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

The Moon Yao in my hand emitted a different light from every angle. It seemed lusterless at times, yet it also shimmered with a rainbow of colors. Knowing these three aspects combined to form the Moon Yao, I gazed at it in wonder.

Zhuge Sa spoke.

[Heh heh... How do you plan to explain this meanded to your comrades later?]

His words made me flinch. It was true—by suddenly breaking the Moon Yao's seal out of nowhere, the Moon Yao's guardian was undoubtedly rampaging like mad by now. But since I'd already steeled myself for this, I grumbled back curtly.

[If things stayed like this, the Heavenly Realm would march on the Imperial Palace or the White Lotus Cult to subjugate them, forcing Miho to become the Moon Yao's master. She'd have to fight another hopeless battle. Rather than watch that happen, I'll shoulder the karma myself.]

[Oh ho... Such devotion. You like that fox girl that much?]

I answered firmly.

[Yes. For Miho's sake, I'd even die.]

Zhuge Sa replied in a tone that seemed somewhat impressed, then continued.

[I don't think it's a bad thing that you got the Moon Yao. With the cult leader having taken the Water Yao, it's crucial to hold at least one of the Seven Luminaries. But you know you can't perform the seal recognition rite in your current state, right? So the Moon Yao's seal can't be broken.]

[Ugh.]

That was the problem.

The Seven Luminaries could be unbound in two ways. One was through repeated killing with the Luminary, naturally unbinding it once enough power accumulated. The other was the proper method: gaining recognition as its master via the seal recognition rite. The issue was that natural unbinding summoned an [Ancient Ruler], unleashing unimaginable catastrophe. Thus, without the rite for proper release, one couldn't truly become a Seven Luminary's master.

Yet the seal recognition rite couldn't be performed now. The Heavenly Realm hadn't granted the right, and we didn't control any of the Five Sacred Peaks' Heavenly Altar platforms needed for it. Holding a Seven Luminary like this meant nothing.

Zhuge Sa then said.

[Hey. You overlooked the most important thing in all your past lives.]

[Huh? What now?]

[You don't even know if the Twelve Rhythms Lord's Wood Yao is unbound or not. You don't know if he's strong because he unbound it.]

[Ah!]

His unexpected point startled me.

He was right. I'd only considered the Twelve Rhythms Lord as a Seven Luminary master, never whether it was unbound. But I shook my head and replied.

[I can't just ask. He seems to know exactly what unbounding a Seven Luminary means, and he's always on guard about it whenever we meet. Trying to pry that from a sly fox like him is too dangerous.]

[Heh heh... Fair enough.]

Zhuge Sa chuckled, then continued.

[But think about it. What if the Twelve Rhythms Lord has that much power without even unbounding the Wood Yao?]

[......]

My body shuddered.

[No way. How could a human...]

[It could happen. Always keep the possibility open.]

[Impossible.]

I strongly denied Zhuge Sa's words.

The Twelve Rhythms Lord's power was clearly on par with the White Lotus Cult Leader's. And the cult leader had definitely contracted with a god for near-divine authority. For the Twelve Rhythms Lord to match that as a mere mortal was astonishing. But I'd assumed it was all from the Seven Luminary's power. If it wasn't... that was terrifying.

If so, what power would he gain from unbounding two Seven Luminaries?

As I inwardly shuddered, Zhuge Sa said.

[Enough chit-chat. What's certain is that four of the Seven Luminaries are now loose on earth. Plus, since you unbound the Moon Yao without handling the guardian, the Heavenly Realm won't sit idly by.]

[Hmm...]

[Ye Dongbin's probably watching you closely. Call him out.]

My face twisted. He'd pointed out something I'd been avoiding.

'Ugh... No choice.'

Steeling myself, I focused my mind and called Ye Dongbin through my soul's terminal link. He'd returned to the Heavenly Realm after my last request, but the link allowed him to come anytime.

Wooong.

Soon, Ye Dongbin's sword spirit shimmered into view before me. Though called a spirit, it was akin to an avatar of the great immortal Ye Dongbin. He glared at me with clear anger and said.

[Mortal. How dare you break the Moon Yao's seal on your own whim? Do you know what disaster you've unleashed?]

[......]

I had no words, even ten mouths wouldn't suffice. But Zhuge Sa whispered.

[Ignore your conscience. Just say your piece.]

[Still...]

[If you don't settle this with Ye Dongbin now, he'll eventually cut you down.]

A do-or-die negotiation out of nowhere!

My mouth went dry, but I collected myself and replied slowly.

"Ye Dongbin. I had no choice but to take the Moon Yao to restore heaven and earth's balance."

[What nonsense?]

"You may know this already, but the Water Yao recently fell into the Eastern Twelve Rhythms Lord's hands. That means two of the Seven Luminaries on earth are now with one man."

[......]

"No one knows what power the Twelve Rhythms Lord will gain next. To check him and gain the minimum strength to subjugate the demons, I had to take the Moon Yao."

I figured this might convince Ye Dongbin. But he replied in an impassive, cold voice.

[Excessive excuses. You have no reason to worry about heaven and earth's balance. And you're shirking responsibility for the Moon Yao's guardian unleashing calamity. Is deceiving others with clever arguments your way, mortal?]

[Ugh...]

[For our bond's sake, I'll hear more. Choose your next words carefully.]

Ye Dongbin said no more, but those words carried dire implications. He could turn hostile and take my life at any moment—or the entire Heavenly Realm might become my enemy.

I swallowed hard and continued.

"That's why I'll take responsibility."

[How? This is beyond your life's worth.]

"Grant me the right to become the Moon Yao's master. Then I'll use its power to subjugate the guardian. Isn't that enough?"

[......!]

Ye Dongbin looked shocked. After careful thought, he said.

[I don't understand. Why possess over the Seven Luminaries? They grant immense divine power, but no human can wield them. Excessive attachment to power leads to ruin.]

"Ye Dongbin. Don't you truly see?"

[See what?]

I sighed deeply and said.

"No matter what the Heavenly Realm does now, it can't control the White Lotus Cult Leader, the Twelve Rhythms Lord, or the Imperial Palace. They've already gained the Seven Luminaries... or power far beyond them. That's why I'm using this extreme measure to check them before it's too late."

[Not for mortals to consider...]

"Ye Dongbin! Shouldn't humans handle human affairs? Isn't that the proper karmic way?"

I shouted, and Ye Dongbin fell silent. He stood frozen for a while, then spoke.

[A meeting just ended in the Heavenly Realm.]

[A meeting?]

[We thoroughly discussed your proposal. I suggested it.]

Heavenly time must flow differently from the mortal world—much time had passed in that instant. Ye Dongbin stared piercingly at me and said.

[Mortal. Do you truly wish to protect this world?]

"Of course."

[Then I command you to reclaim and reseal the Seven Luminaries. For that, you'll gain the right to the seal recognition rite. Strive especially to destroy the Imperial Palace's evil.]

Wha...!

[Furthermore, check the White Lotus Cult Leader and Twelve Rhythms Lord to prevent their tyranny. This is the decree of the Heavenly Realm's Supreme Elder Lord.]

Was this too good to be true?!

I'd braced for death by Ye Dongbin's sword, but the Heavenly Realm's response was surprisingly positive. I'd avoided enmity and gained the rite's right. Stunned, Ye Dongbin said.

[Don't celebrate yet. We deemed the cult leader and Twelve Rhythms Lord's power beyond human limits—this is a desperate measure.]

"Ahaha... I wouldn't dream of it..."

As I laughed awkwardly, Ye Dongbin said.

[Don't worry about the Moon Yao's guardian. It's being handled.]

"What?"

[The Queen Mother of the West will seal it.]

Whoosh!

Moments later, Ye Dongbin's sword spirit dissolved into mist and vanished, apparently returning to the Heavenly Realm. I pondered his words.

'The Queen Mother?'

I hadn't expected her involvement. Zhuge Sa, who'd been listening, said.

[In one of your past lives, Miho got the Moon Yao because the Queen Mother descended and slew the guardian. A divine being of her stature can manage it.]

"But... isn't the guardian also an [Ancient Ruler]? I can't imagine even the Queen Mother subduing it."

[You know [Ancient Rulers] vary widely in power. Izanagi-no-Mikoto is low-tier, so she can handle it.]

"Hmm..."

[It is odd, though. The Queen Mother's power stands out even among the Heavenly Realm's great immortals. Enough to surpass even the Combat Immortal...]

Muttering that, Zhuge Sa continued.

[The negotiation succeeding was inevitable.]

"Why?"

[The Heavenly Realm had no choice but to be favorable. You've been recognized for your abilities.]

"My abilities?"

[At just over ten years old, you wield immense martial arts, traverse heaven and earth freely, and unbound two Seven Luminaries in mere years. You're already a mythic hero. With no suitable talents on earth, they're using you as a useful pawn.]

[......]

So I'd earned that much recognition.

Feeling pleased, I grinned, but Zhuge Sa snapped gruffly.

[Nothing to smile about. This is just laying groundwork. Nothing progresses without toppling the Imperial Palace first.]

"Ah, right..."

[You could unbind the Moon Yao now, but leave it sealed. If your power surges, the cult leader will notice immediately. Wait for a moment to fight him, then release it.]

Having set our future course, Zhuge Sa continued.

[Now, know what to do next?]

"What?"

Eyes sparkling with anticipation, I asked back. Zhuge Sa replied firmly.

[Train the Great Divorce Method, idiot.]

[......]

My excitement was foolish.

I rode the Four Divine Beasts Statue south with the Moon Yao and buried it under a massive boulder. No one could steal it like this. Then I returned to my Dazhou, Han Baekyeong, and Dugoseong, so he no longer taught me the Three Treasures Ultimate Arts. I felt a bit regretful, but as Zhuge Sa said, the Great Divorce Method alone kept me busy.

How much time passed?

About three months later, change arrived.

The cult leader summoned me and said.

[Baek Woong. Envoys from the Imperial Palace have come.]

"What envoys?"

[They accepted the exchange. In seven days, we'll meet at Luoyang's Wooden Bridge for negotiations with their representatives.]

[......]

As expected, after Zhuge Fu's death, Zhuge Yuryong had cast aside all restraints for his own choices. He'd watched quietly for three months, likely needing time to revive Zhuge Fu with the Spirit Stone Tablet and Portrait Ghost's power. After pondering, I said.

"Luoyang is enemy territory. Isn't it dangerous?"

[Dangerous, but I'll go. No one can threaten me anymore.]

With that, the cult leader told me.

[Baek Woong. Come with me. Slaughter every Imperial Palace bastard there.]

So that was the goal. I subtly tried to back out.

"My skills are lacking—I doubt I'd help much in that fight..."

[True. Maybe not.]

[......]

His ready agreement stung. But his next words shocked me beyond that.

[So tomorrow, I'll grant you a Heavenly Spirit Pill.]

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