Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Rumble rumble rumble

The moment Namhwa Old Immortal finished speaking, heaven and earth flipped upside down. In that instant, I witnessed the White Lotus Leader creating a Present Karma space to resist the spells of the Great Luo Immortals. At the same time, the immense gravitational pull made me falter.

From the overturned world, everything shot up into the sky! Human corpses, the earth's crust—everything within hundreds of feet was swept away like a storm. I hurriedly unleashed Heavenly Weight Anchor, but strangely, it had no effect, so I had no choice but to summon Wol Yo's power.

The moment Wol Yo's Moon Shadow unfolded around me, the scene before my eyes returned to normal.

"......!!"

It was just an illusion spell?

I couldn't help but feel bewildered. By acquiring Wol Yo, I had gained tremendous spiritual power, enough to nullify most illusions. Even back when I obtained Su Yo, a single slash from it had shattered Cheon Woo-jin's barrier—the power of the Seven Luminaries was that overwhelming. And yet, even possessing one, if I didn't consciously deploy its power, I could still fall victim to illusions!

At the same time, I saw the Leader's form shooting forward at blinding speed, like a beam of light, smashing Namhwa Old Immortal's head. The Leader's speed was so incredible that I could only perceive the result.

[What terrifying power.]

But the Namhwa Old Immortal, whom I thought the Leader had killed, turned to smoke and vanished in an instant. He reappeared in the air about ten-odd feet behind. From that sight, I realized the Leader had also fallen for Namhwa Old Immortal's trick.

'Crazy! He can even cast illusions on the owner of the Primordial Spirit...'

I nearly cursed in shock. That meant what I was seeing right now was also just an illusion hiding the true reality. I'd never seen or heard of an illusion this powerful—it was chilling. Any ordinary martial artist, even a transcendent expert, would be toyed with and killed in this illusion array! To cast an illusion on the White Lotus Leader held immense significance.

Sensing this as well, the Leader glanced at the Great Luo Immortals surrounding him in the Three Talents formation and spoke.

[So these are the Great Luo Immortals of the Heavenly Realm... I can truly feel that you've transcended humanity.]

Responding to his words was Ugil, floating to the Leader's left.

[White Lotus Leader. I am Ugil. You can never overcome our Supreme Peace Demonic Arts.]

[Why not? This is ultimately just an illusion. You cannot kill me.]

[Then die.]

Kiriring—

Ugil raised his right hand, swinging a golden chain as he spoke.

[Treasure Talisman, Heart-Piercing Chain! Pierce the criminal's heart!]

Kwang kwang kwang!!

In the next moment, the golden chain was embedded in the White Lotus Leader's left palm. For some reason, the chain appeared right before his heart without any warning or trajectory, and judging it impossible to block with protective aura, the Leader raised his hand to intercept it directly. Blood spurted like a fountain from his left hand pierced by the Heart-Piercing Chain.

'...What the hell just happened?!'

What kind of power did that Treasure Talisman hold? The Leader clearly had plenty of time to counterattack or evade until Ugil struck, yet he stood in place and could only block. I couldn't even guess the principle behind this exchange.

Then, Zhuge spoke.

[He probably already unleashed countless attacks toward the Great Luo Immortals in the Three Talents. With no reaction, he decided to test the Treasure Talisman's power first.]

[Damn it...]

[Treasure Talismans are different from martial arts. At this rate, the Leader might die.]

Die? That Leader?

[No way.]

I stared at the Leader in disbelief. Acting rashly now might only hinder him, so for the moment, I was just protecting myself with Moon Shadow. My actions would depend on what he did next.

Then Janggak raised his arm and shouted.

[Treasure Talisman, Summoning Lightning! Strike with thunder!]

Flash

"Grraaaah!!!"

I screamed as the pressure forced me to the ground. If I hadn't summoned Moon Shadow beforehand, I'd have been roasted alive for sure. In that split second, a massive bolt of lightning struck across a five-li radius! It far surpassed the five elements spells of ordinary sorcery.

'These bastards... too...'

I gritted my teeth. The Leader, floating motionless in the air, was only defending without counterattacking. He seemed surprised by the unexpected assault and shifted to a watchful stance. Flexing his hand, the Leader spoke.

[Namhwa Old Immortal. What is your Treasure Talisman?]

Namhwa Old Immortal didn't respond. He simply watched the White Lotus Leader silently in his hazy illusory form. Filling the silence, Ugil and Janggak beside him unleashed one terrifying spell after another, each time the Treasure Talismans humming as they spewed spiritual energy.

Kwang kwang kwang!

Kwang kwang!!

The Leader, maintaining Present Karma, summoned a bizarre black protective aura and kept defending. Stronger than a typical protective aura, it hadn't suffered any solid hits since activation. Yet the Great Luo Immortals' spells were formidable—the cracks forming in the aura were visible to the naked eye.

The Leader's wise choice to pull back the Heavenly Spirit Pill owners here was evident. Even a guardian lion's protective aura couldn't block such continuous assaults.

"Huff... huff... damn it!!"

The problem was me. Though blocking with Moon Shadow, each hit felt like a punch to the face. Without the Seven Luminaries, I'd have died to sorcery long ago. Now, I thought, I had to fight these Great Luo Immortals.

'This is full rebellion against the Heavenly Realm, but no choice!'

So what if I die? There was still room for excuses, so I'd fight as best I could. Zhuge sneered.

[Deciding awfully quick, aren't you? Aren't you getting too arrogant?]

[What bullshit!]

[Think about it. A Treasure Talisman is so tremendous that any ordinary sorcerer gaining one would immediately ascend to immortality. And now the Great Luo Immortals themselves wield them, yet you only decide to risk your life now? You think they're a joke?]

[......]

[Since you've been sitting idle, keep it that way. The Leader finally seems about to do something.]

Zhuge was right.

Suddenly, the Leader compressed his energy immensely and burst into laughter.

[Kahaha...!! I see! Now I understand what a Treasure Talisman is!]

[......]

[The ultimate dharma body forged by the concept enlightening the eternal heavenly principles! That's a Treasure Talisman!!]

As the Leader shouted in realization, the Great Luo Immortals' attacks momentarily faltered. Namhwa Old Immortal in front showed a flicker of expression and responded.

[Indeed. To know it's based on concept—you have deep cultivation, unbefitting the demonic path.]

[Heh... Even the White Lotus Cult's vast texts had no direct encounters or studies of Treasure Talismans. Today, my long curiosity is satisfied.]

Namhwa Old Immortal replied coldly.

[Knowing changes nothing. Your Primordial Spirit holds infinite energy, but concept suppresses it from another dimension. No matter how vast your aura, you cannot break our barrier.]

Absolute confidence permeated Namhwa Old Immortal's words. They seemed thoroughly prepared for this. The White Lotus Leader, staring blankly at him, suddenly spoke.

[Concept ultimately returns to the Supreme Ultimate. It is never complete. Thus, Great Luo Immortals of the Heavenly Realm, you cannot become gods.]

[Hah! Nonsense. Who doesn't know that? Only one being transcends the Supreme Ultimate across the universe—debating it is pointless.]

Undeterred by the mockery, the White Lotus Leader continued.

[Great Luo Immortals. The qi of heaven and earth gathers and scatters in a hundred ways—but —]

Woooong

The White Lotus Leader suddenly emitted intense light from his body. The brilliant white blaze soon shone like a radiant star, then transformed into a massive vortex. His human form remained, but the light boiling from his body writhed like a living thing.

[Ah... no.]

[Impossible.]

From the moment the light erupted, the three Great Luo Immortals' spells were swept into the chaos sphere and vanished entirely. The Heart-Piercing Chain's flames or sky thunder pouring from the void were engulfed by the chaos around the Leader. It wasn't nullification—it was as if the phenomena themselves were devoured.

Roooar

Moments later, the Leader, now pure white, seemed transformed into something otherworldly. Swirling black and white chaos undulated, forming his veins and skin. His eyes bore writhing Supreme Ultimates. Amid the raging darkness, his body fully shifted to combat form, becoming sleek. Black flames writhed visibly behind his back.

[Supreme Harmony collides, intertwining and extending without limit!]

Boom boom

Clenching his fist, explosions erupted from nowhere, and a soul flew out. Janggak cried in horror.

[No... Ugil!]

The Leader sneered.

[The legend that Great Luo Immortals' souls return to the Heavenly Realm's God-Sealing Tablet was true.]

[You bastard!!]

Janggak swung his Summoning Lightning with full force. Condensed to look like azure flames, the lightning he hurled was undoubtedly the previous wide-area thunder focused into one—its destructive power immense.

But the Leader casually read its path, dodged, and instantly struck Janggak's true body.

Boom boom

Janggak's soul flew out without a scream.

[Second one.]

A hint of exhilaration colored the White Lotus Leader's low voice. No wonder—he was personally tearing apart the haughty Great Luo Immortals of the Heavenly Realm.

[That is the power of the [Ancient Ruler].]

The last remaining, Namhwa Old Immortal, stared calmly at the White Lotus Leader without losing composure. Then he spat out flatly.

[It is not your power. Slave of the demonic path.]

[Heh... Sharp observation.]

[Sacrificing your soul to the Throne of Chaos—you're truly insane. But... even so, your power cannot contend with the Heavenly Realm!]

[Great Luo Immortal. That's not for you to worry about. Kahahaha...]

Replying thus, the White Lotus Leader laughed joyfully and continued.

[And... this power may be a privilege, but the aptitude for it is granted only to humans. Isn't that enough?]

[......]

[Now, begone.]

Tskakak

The Leader's Primordial Spirit spewed black and white again, shredding Namhwa Old Immortal's body in an instant. It ended so easily it barely felt like a fight, but it proved even Great Luo Immortals couldn't physically oppose the Leader in the material world.

Namhwa Old Immortal's soul immediately shot toward the God-Sealing Tablet, when Zhuge shouted in my mind.

[Grab it with Soul Separation Great Law!]

His words jolted me awake, and I reached toward the fleeing soul. But the immense pressure felt like it would rip my arm off, so I hastily aborted the technique.

[Urk! Too strong.]

As the technique stopped, Namhwa Old Immortal's soul rocketed skyward with his Treasure Talisman at tremendous speed. Staring blankly, Zhuge clicked his tongue.

[Hmph... As expected. To devour a Great Luo Immortal's soul, you need to master Soul Separation Great Law.]

[As expected, huh? Then why'd you tell me to try?!]

[No loss if it fails. You're the fool for not mastering it—not my fault for advising.]

Zhuge gruffly continued.

[This confirms it. You still haven't fully digested the powers from Wol Yo, the Imperial Seal of All Nations, and the Demonic Beast Bracelet... You need more training to use your full strength.]

Shuuk

At that moment, the White Lotus Leader's body returned to normal. Looking utterly exhausted, he slowly withdrew his Present Karma.

[Vice Leader Baek Woong. To Luoyang.]

"Are you alright?"

[I'm fine. Using the Primordial Spirit's power leaves me no choice.]

"Primordial Spirit's power?"

The Leader nodded and said.

[Hurry. There's work to do in Luoyang.]

Seeing him urge me instead of using his own Flying Steamship, it seemed he needed mine. His condition must be too unstable for his own.

"......"

Hearing that, I was tempted to strike him now. The Leader, having used the Primordial Spirit's power, was clearly weakened. His infinite inner energy from the Primordial Spirit remained, but the usual overwhelming presence was nearly gone. At this level, pushing Wol Yo's power to the limit might give me a shot.

But I quickly shelved the thought, sighed, and summoned the Four Buddhas Image.

"Haa... Understood."

Having come this far, I couldn't betray the Leader rashly. Beyond mere profit, I had to repay the loyalty he'd shown me first.

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