Reincarnated Swordmaster

Confrontation with the White Lotus Cult Leader.

Zhuge Sa's words were suddenly forcing an adventure upon me, but this time I didn't panic. That was because I'd anticipated it to some extent the moment I decided to take down the Vermilion Bird. After pondering deeply, I replied.

[Is this checkmate?]

[You understand the situation.]

[I figured the Cult Leader would notice I've gained new power, starting with Moon Yao.]

Zhuge Sa chuckled at my response before speaking.

[If you grasp that much, you're good. All that's left is your resolve.]

[...]

I couldn't answer rashly.

The slave contract of the Heavenly Spirit Pill!

The moment I learned that the Heavenly Spirit Pill—White Lotus Cult's greatest power and weapon—was actually a slave contract, I could no longer choose to meekly stay under the White Lotus Cult Leader and just take the scraps. If I accepted the Heavenly Spirit Pill and couldn't break the contract, I might end up like the other owners after death, becoming a plaything for the [Ancient Ruler] and suffering eternally.

Moreover, simply monitoring the situation under the Cult Leader had reached its limit. Whether Moon Yao or the National Seal, these were powers I had to reclaim in advance sooner or later. I'd just chosen to do it quickly now.

After hesitating, I said.

[Zhuge Sa. Now that I'm Moon Yao's master, what are my odds against the Cult Leader?]

[Fool. Why even think about odds? That's not even worth discussing.]

Zhuge Sa spat it out bluntly and continued.

[The only one who can defeat the Cult Leader head-on right now is one of the Twelve Laws Lords. Moon Yao merely gives you the minimum qualification to even talk to him.]

[So no chance of winning.]

[Against the unchanged Cult Leader, you might've had a 20% shot... But now that you've lost all your treasures and he's studied the Seven Ultimate Arts, your odds are zero.]

[Tch...]

[But you also have the National Seal. Use it well, and you can draw out what you want from the Cult Leader.]

I gritted my teeth.

'Right. Even if I run from the Cult Leader now, it won't mean anything!'

I'd gotten quite a bit of information from him, but it was still just surface-level. I knew the truth of the Heavenly Spirit Pill, but I hadn't uncovered the Cult Leader's true intentions. Approaching his inner circle was nearly impossible no matter how I thought about it, so in this life, I had to risk death to uncover everything about the White Lotus Cult. Otherwise, I'd repeat meaningless deaths at least ten more times.

On top of that, there was one more thing bothering me. As I mulled it over, Zhuge Sa spoke.

[There's the deal with Shangguan Huò.]

[Can I really not give him the White Principle Powder?]

[He asked for a powerful trump card. No telling when you'd get such a treasure. But...]

Zhuge Sa cackled.

[Change the order of things a bit, and you won't have to worry about it.]

[Hm?]

[Enough chatter. Answer me. Are you resolved?]

Hearing Zhuge Sa's urging, I wavered again. This was the greatest turning point of this life, and failure could lead to a fate worse than death. It wasn't a decision to make lightly. After hesitating, I said.

[I'm resolved. But first, I want to test Moon Yao's power.]

[Kekeke... Want to show off a bit?]

[I can't proceed without knowing its extent.]

[Fine. Then let's go to the Arasa Empire.]

[What?]

As I questioned him, Zhuge Sa said.

[It was part of my plan anyway. Might as well handle later tasks early since we're exerting ourselves.]

Flash!

As Zhuge Sa instructed, I rode the Four Buddha Statue and arrived at the Arasa Empire village I'd visited before. This was where forces opposing the corrupt emperor, including Belloph the monk of the Eastern Orthodox Church, had gathered.

They were startled by the sudden appearance of an Eastern boy. Zhuge Sa giggled and said.

[I'll translate.]

Zhuge Sa resonated his soul to sync with me. Agreeing meant sharing some of his language ability, but I yielded for now. Soon, linked to Zhuge Sa's intellect, fluent Arasa words flowed from my mouth.

"I am Baek Woong from the Ming Dynasty. I came to meet Belloph, High Priest of the Eastern Orthodox Church."

Murmurs.

The gathered knights and soldiers buzzed, staring at me. My perfect Arasa had them all understanding. A burly knight in full plate growled curtly.

"What nonsense? Seize him."

As soldiers drew swords with a metallic clank, a loud shout came from behind.

"Stand down!"

Belloph the monk walked forward through the snow-packed path. He eyed me suspiciously and said.

"A strange man from the East? Why seek me?"

"Belloph. I can help you. Because I can unseal the dragon."

"...!!"

Belloph's eyes widened in shock. He glanced around and said.

"We need to talk in detail."

"No need for chit-chat. Just promise me."

"Promise what?"

"If I awaken the dragon and subdue the mad emperor Ivan IV, give me the holy relic your Eastern Orthodox Church possesses."

"Hmm..."

Belloph sighed deeply before speaking.

"You seem to know our plight well, Baek Woong. But awakening the dragon is too unrealistic..."

"I'll wait in the cave first."

Tadak.

I used the Annihilation Step to vanish into a remote cave. I sensed the Westerners, including Belloph, panicking belatedly, but it was none of my concern. Deep in the remote cave, a blast of pure white icy energy hit me, revealing a massive reptile, dozens of feet long, trapped in the ice wall.

This was the Western dragon!

The Eastern Orthodox Church, mythologized by an apostle's hand, had decided to awaken this legendary phantom beast to face the mighty emperor. I recalled coming here before with Mihu.

[Unlike Eastern dragons, it radiates an intensely evil aura. Its power is unknown, but it's clearly a disaster. Must you awaken it?]

[Probably some powerful sorcerer sensed its evil and sealed it at the cost of their life.]

[It seems like kin to Eastern dragons, but this Western one won't be friendly to humans. Nor does that monk Belloph seem capable of controlling it. Though it's undoubtedly powerful.]

With her gumho instincts and experience, Mihu had sensed the dragon sealed in ice was profoundly evil and strong. To avoid entanglement in the bizarre Arasa Empire affair, I'd left then.

But now, I was here for the trump card to give Shangguan Huò. The holy relic was said to be equivalent, so I aimed to claim it and settle the unfinished business.

As I stared at the dragon, Zhuge Sa snickered.

[I see... Count Dracula, huh.]

[What do you see?]

[This is a being originally human who reincarnated as a dragon. I'd heard rumors. If it's from Romania, that confirms it.]

[It was human?]

[A human lord traded with other races for eternal life, gaining a dragon's body. Naturally greedy and evil.]

After explaining, Zhuge Sa said.

[Now, devour it. Sweet opportunity.]

Swish.

I extended the bracelet, channeling Moon Yao's power. Vast energy poured from the Three Divine Artifacts, resonating with the bracelet. Soon, the heat began melting the millennial ice trapping the dragon.

Even faster than the ice melted, a massive soul ripped free from the dragon. The dragon soul screamed desperately.

Groooaar!!

But activating Moon Yao's power surged my sorcery beyond reason, boosting the bracelet's absorption. Unable to resist after centuries sealed, the dragon soul was fully sucked into the bracelet.

Crack!

The bracelet's gem turned fully red, power surging through it. Zhuge Sa explained.

[The bracelet's full of souls now. The dragon soul equals thousands of humans' worth.]

[I did as told, but what's the benefit?]

[Kekeke... You'll see.]

Then Belloph arrived with soldiers and knights. Seeing me, he said.

"You said you'd awaken the dragon—what is this?"

"This dragon is too evil to awaken. So I'll go topple the emperor now."

"What..."

"I'll ask once more. If I eliminate the emperor, you'll give me the holy relic?"

"..."

Belloph pondered, then nodded.

"If you succeed... But how..."

Flash!

Before he finished, I rode the Four Buddha Statue to the Arasa Empire capital, Moscow's Kremlin Palace. Its underground held the Prophet's secret library—I remembered emerging from there once. Walking the vast palace corridors slowly, I heard a thumping roar.

Like a heartbeat. Zhuge Sa said.

[This place is already a demonic realm. No doubt an apostle-level being lurks here.]

[I-Isn't that dangerous?]

[Don't worry. Too far from the Central Plains—even plucking a tiger's whisker leaves no repercussions. The apostle seems spent and dormant. Use Moon Yao freely.]

Zhuge Sa advised.

[The apostle slumbers in the palace depths, so lingering is risky. Let's head outside first.]

As I wandered the city outside for a while.

Swoosh.

A massive illusion appeared in the sky. A youth in luxurious robes, wooden-skinned, loomed dozens of feet tall, exuding eerie, potent aura as he bellowed.

[Uhahaha! An intruder in my palace thinks he can leave? Come here, barbarian!]

The mad emperor had appeared. I recalled fleeing without fighting before—it had been too much. Without the golden eagle leaf from Belloph, I couldn't have matched him.

But this time, I'd come to face him properly.

"Moon Yao, awaken!"

Chanting the incantation, the Three Divine Artifacts trembled, summoning around me. Moon Yao's liberated power flowed through my body. The emperor Ivan IV faltered, sensing it.

[What is that power?]

"The power for an intruder to beat the master to death!"

I replied vaguely and, like Mihu once did, summoned Moon Shadows around me. They writhed like living things, dozens appearing—I instinctively knew how to use them the moment I willed them.

'Ah, Moon Yao's kinder than Water Yao.'

I'd handled liberator Water Yao before, but it only gave raw power, no knowledge or techniques. That's why I knew of Heaven's Ice but couldn't use Water Yao for it. Moon Yao, unlike Water Yao, let me intuitively grasp techniques upon intent.

Shikakak!

Moon Shadows flew, piercing Ivan IV's body. Even his semi-transparent spirit form screamed in agony from the penetration.

[Kuaaak!! You worm!!]

'It works!'

I was shocked. My thoughts barely nicked that body, yet Moon Shadows sliced it like tofu. The Seven Yao powers clearly worked on mythologized beings. Ivan IV summoned a massive pressure palm, but I easily deflected it with Moon Yao's barrier.

Simultaneously, I grasped one Moon Yao orbiting me. It was the sword among the Three Divine Artifacts, called Heavenly Sword, or in Dongyoung, the Thousand Star Cloud Sword of Mikusano Kamutakara.

"Hah!!"

Space literally split with the Moon Shadows!

Whiiing.

Just using Void Severing unleashed a slash dozens of feet wide, cleaving space in half. Ivan IV staggered in its path, his body crumbling to light motes.

[Kraaak... Aak...]

His spirit collapsing from massive damage! Stunned that the absurdly strong Ivan IV fell so easily—a foe requiring ten lives at my base power—I stared blankly. Zhuge Sa grinned.

[The Seven Yao are god-grade trump cards handmade by the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, infused with [Ancient Ruler]'s power. No apostle-forged spirit can withstand it.]

[If I finish him, won't the apostle inside come at me?]

[Your head's turning now. If you get it, stop showing off and let's go.]

[...]

[He took that much; even if not erased, he's greatly weakened.]

From that, I realized Ivan IV hadn't taken fatal damage yet. Halfway there, but no need to finish—I taunted him.

"Tough luck getting beat by an intruder."

[You...!!]

"Don't tell on me to mommy."

Flash.

After teasing Ivan IV, I returned to Belloph's camp and found him.

"You watched via far-sight sorcery, right? Ivan IV's too weakened to recover now."

"Hmm..."

"Hand over the holy relic."

Belloph stared, awestruck. Sighing, he said.

"Fine..."

He wasn't fond of me, but probably fearing clashing with someone who crushed Ivan IV was unwise. His face was uncomfortable, yet composed.

Soon, Belloph brought elderly monks with a large chest, unlocking its seal. Inside the man-sized chest was a fist-sized stone tablet fragment.

With trembling hands, Belloph handed it over, saying.

"This is part of the Ten Commandments Tablet. The holiest, most valuable relic our Eastern Orthodox Church guards..."

"Ten Commandments Tablet?"

"Thanks for your deed."

"Got it."

I took the tablet from Belloph and returned to Luoyang in the Central Plains.

'I'll give this Ten Commandments fragment to Shangguan Huò.'

It felt like everything zipped by, but now I truly felt it. Being a Seven Yao master meant borrowing power from a whole other divine tier!

Buoyed by confidence, I told Zhuge Sa.

"Alright, I'm going!"

My resolve hardened.

No more endless deliberation—I'd use my power to persuade the White Lotus Cult Leader.

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