Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Thunder God Style?

I felt bewildered. The one currently leading the Thunder God Style had to be Yi Cheong-un, revived by the power of reversal. That meant the Thunder God Style's intervention likely involved Yi Gwang or Jin So-cheong. But I didn't mention that and instead spoke calmly.

"What happened?"

Dokgo-Jun replied awkwardly.

[We swiftly subdued the Mount Hua Sect, Hengshan Sect, and Thrust Peak Sect. The Hengshan Sect was especially easy to break because their sect leader mysteriously vanished not long ago. However, the Beggar Clan leader fled with his executives, so we haven't located them yet. The problem arose at the Wudang Sect.]

"Wudang Sect?"

[We sent our Muryu elder, Dokgo-u, to subdue the Wudang Sect, but he was defeated by Jin So-cheong of the Thunder God Style. We just received the news, so I came to report it first before regrouping our forces to head there.]

"......"

That fact carried heavy implications. It hadn't been long since I started this reincarnation, yet Jin So-cheong had grown strong enough to defeat a Heavenly Spirit Pill possessor. Dokgo-u, an elder of the Water God Style, was effectively at the level of a Dharma Protector, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say Jin So-cheong's marvel prowess had surged dozens of times.

'To defeat a Heavenly Spirit Pill user without one yourself... it means a vast gap in skill.'

The basic tactic of Heavenly Spirit Pill users was to overwhelm the battlefield with infinite internal energy, but its transcendent will-based martial arts beyond the absolute peak, one could possess divine techniques capable of shattering infinite energy in an instant. Jin So-cheong had undoubtedly reached that supreme realm.

I reassessed Jin So-cheong's prowess inwardly before turning to Han Baekryeong.

"What about your side?"

Han Baekryeong fell silent for a moment before responding. She seemed to have adapted to our status difference, now using formal speech.

"Yi Gwang and a man named Geuk-ho intervened. Yi Gwang is the disciple of the previous Thunder God Style master, and Geuk-ho is a disciple of the Thunder God Style."

......

Of course, I already knew that without her saying it—no one in the world knew it better than I did. I'd anticipated Yi Gwang, but Geuk-ho's mention made my eyebrow twitch. Just to be sure, I asked,

"Perhaps they blocked you during the Yellow Mountain Sect subjugation?"

"No. The Yellow Mountain Sect leader, Yong Jung-il, and the four great elders fled early on. Yi Gwang and Geuk-ho appeared at the Zhongnan Sect, attacking the Fire God Style elders. Their power was unexpectedly strong, and since the Cult Leader ordered no killing, we withdrew first..."

"Zhongnan Sect..."

I could guess the rest. With the power of the Fire God Style and the Dharma Protectors, they could have easily subdued the remaining three of the Nine Great Righteous Sects, but the Yellow Mountain Sect had fled, and they were blocked at the Zhongnan Sect.

'The Zhongnan Sect leader, Yeon Jeong-hong, is Yi Gwang's close friend. Yi Gwang must have stepped in to help him.'

I organized my thoughts and quickly understood.

'Yi Cheong-un got ahead of us!'

Yi Cheong-un had read the memories I gave him at the end and anticipated that the White Lotus Church would move to subdue the Nine Great Righteous Sects. He could do that because he had information on the Heavenly Emperor Altar at the Five Peaks. After the White Lotus Church seized Luoyang, he must have monitored the Nine Great Righteous Sects' movements and decided to aid his closest and most important allies first.

But Yi Cheong-un... his intentions were hard to read.

As the Thunder God Style master, he would have passed on his martial arts to Jin So-cheong, Yi Gwang, and Geuk-ho to strengthen them. He'd holed up in the Azure Dragon Martial Hall until now, only emerging to confront the White Lotus Church—it felt off somehow. To confirm my suspicion, I asked the two Dharma Protectors,

"So, what were our casualties?"

Their responses came.

[Dokgo-u lost one arm, and two elders suffered minor injuries.]

"We assumed mutual heavy losses and withdrew first."

"......"

As expected. On the Fire God Style side, Han Baekryeong and Yi Gwang already knew each other, so they likely avoided extreme clashes. But on the Water God Style side, with an unfamiliar Jin So-cheong blocking them, he wouldn't have held back. Given Jin So-cheong's temperament, he should have killed a Water God Style elder who could become a future threat. Yet, despite his superior skill, he only severed Dokgo-u's arm and let him go.

'The Thunder God Style doesn't truly intend to oppose the White Lotus Church. Could it be...'

I sensed something and stood up. Then I said to the Dharma Protectors,

"I'll look into that matter. Put the Nine Great Righteous Sects subjugation on hold for now."

[Until when?]

"Until I give further orders."

[Understood.]

Once the Dharma Protectors withdrew, I addressed Zhuge Sa.

[Zhuge Sa, is my guess correct?]

[Heh. Hanging around me must have sharpened your thinking a bit. It's not wrong.]

The chuckling Zhuge Sa continued.

[Yi Cheong-un wants to talk to you. Whether you follow his lure is your choice. But given his cunning mind, you have no option but to go in this situation.]

As I thought. Since he didn't know when I'd revisit the Thunder God Style, this interference was undoubtedly to draw my attention.

[Does Yi Cheong-un intend to kill me?]

[Kekeke. Possible, but... if I were Yi Cheong-un, I wouldn't.]

[Why?]

[I don't think he's built up enough power to kill the Cult Leader yet. It would be reckless to kill you, someone who could play a decisive role at a critical moment. He'll want some kind of negotiation.]

[Any guesses on what kind?]

[......]

[Zhuge Sa?]

When I called him, he said,

[Be cautious with this meeting.]

[Hmm...]

[Yi Cheong-un is no pushover. He hasn't acted rashly only because of your absurd advantages. He's got hundreds of schemes inside him. Even if he doesn't kill you, he'll use any means to manipulate you as he wishes.]

Zhuge Sa's words made perfect sense. Up until now, he might have used me as a double agent to monitor the Cult Leader, but with the Heavenly Emperor Plan's activation imminent, things had changed. Even if I hadn't told him about it, he might have figured it out himself. It was obvious he'd try something with me to cope with the shifting situation.

But that posed a dilemma. Meeting him one-on-one meant the Thunder God Spirit Soul would paralyze me, subduing me in one strike. Using Wol-yeong to boost my demon power might allow some resistance, but escaping the Thunder God Spirit Soul was uncertain.

Bringing escorts was pointless— no one, not even the Cult Leader, could withstand Yi Cheong-un. I'd heard how Dokgo Jun was turned into rags without a fight, confirming Yi Cheong-un's absurd strength.

The best option seemed to be bringing the Cult Leader to subdue him directly. But that would seal off all Yi Cheong-un's other possibilities. Plus, subduing him might make it impossible to restrain the Cult Leader's future rampage.

Yi Cheong-un must have anticipated me bringing the Cult Leader, yet he still acted boldly. That resolve to meet me at any cost was concerning.

"......"

What a truly troublesome foe. I even doubted if reviving him in this life had been a mistake. No wonder even the Cult Leader at his peak had approached the Thunder God Style cautiously. As I pondered, Zhuge Sa said,

[Think carefully. You choose when to meet Yi Cheong-un. But it's undoubtedly a major decision. His Thunder God Style could bring you immense gain or loss. Be mindful—you might waste most of the 49 days if you're not careful.]

"Ugh..."

It was truly difficult. Better to just fight to the death than face such a tough dilemma. I agonized in my room before finally deciding.

"Damn it! If I might die anyway, I should gather as much info as possible first, right? I'm going to meet the Oracle!"

[What?!]

Zhuge Sa sounded flustered. Without further ado, I summoned the Four Divine Beasts statue and headed to the grand temple where the Oracle resided.

[What is it... another deal?]

As the Oracle slyly appeared, I said,

"Oracle! Do you know that the Heavenly Emperor Altar is about to lower the Heavenly Ladder to the human world?"

[Of course... That's why I've been evacuating my kin...]

"Evacuating?"

The Oracle replied as if it was obvious.

[Once that begins, the Heavenly Realm's plan activates centuries ahead of schedule... My clansmen living on earth under the name Zhu Rong Clan could suffer... As their king, I'm naturally evacuating them...]

"Damn... I'm trying to stop that Heavenly Emperor Plan right now."

[Stop it...? How?]

I said confidently,

"That's why I'm asking. How about this as a trade?"

I pulled out the holy relic I'd brought. Seeing the stone tablet, the Oracle was quite surprised.

[Oh... That's... a fragment of the Ten Commandments Tablet, the Tabot.]

"Tabot?"

I'd learned the relic's name. The Oracle continued.

[It's a holy relic preserving the spirit of the stars intact. When the fragments gather to restore its full form, it becomes an artifact of immense power. To religions worshipping the [Ancient Ruler] or monsters, it's a priceless treasure... With that, I'm willing to grant a reasonable request.]

"Hmm."

The holy relic from the Anra Empire seemed to hold greater value than expected. I looked at the Tabot with newfound appreciation before offering it to him.

"Anyway, in exchange, I want to know how to stop the Heavenly Emperor Plan. Deal?"

[......]

The Oracle pondered deeply before speaking.

[I want more details... the memories of the black obsidian.]

"Oh."

I pulled out the black obsidian, recorded everything up to now, and handed it over. After reading the memories for a long time, the Oracle said,

[As I said, a plan raised by the Heavenly Realm's Three Pure Ones is never revoked... The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors review it for 49 days, but it's mere formality... It's unclear if they even exist in the Heavenly Realm now... At this rate, no merit can stop the plan... But there is one way.]

"There is?"

His next words left me speechless.

[Go to the Heavenly Realm yourself, meet the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, explain why the Heavenly Ladder is unjust, and persuade them to halt it... They make the final decision anyway...]

"......"

[That's the only way...]

I retorted incredulously.

"Does that even make sense?! If I go to the Heavenly Realm now—no, I don't even know how—but anyway, I'd die! I've already mocked the Southern Flame Path and been marked by the Heavenly Realm."

[That's for you to handle...]

"And as Cheon Woo-jin said, we might stop it by petitioning the Heavenly Realm..."

The Oracle scoffed.

[Kehhehe... Petition the Heavenly Realm... You truly know nothing.]

"What?"

[The plan to lower the Heavenly Ladder... is a gamble even for the Heavenly Realm. They hold it in preparation for the apocalypse in 500 years, but they don't know what ripples descending the Heavenly Emperor will cause. So they must approach it with extreme caution... Yet deciding to descend it so hastily means... there's a black curtain within the Heavenly Realm...]

"......?!"

[Didn't you tell me...? Auspicious of Taeho Cheonjon and Queen Mother of the West... If they wish to destroy the human world... what meaning does a mere petition from the Heavenly Emperor Altar hold...? They stand at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Realm, barring the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.]

That was true.

The Oracle's logical words struck my head hard.

'Come to think of it, even Jiseon Mangnyang greatly feared the Heavenly Realm's internal black curtain.'

As Gucheon Hyeon-nyeo's disciple, she tried to uncover the infiltrating faction but failed. The enemy's power was too overwhelming, so she passed her knowledge to me and died. If the descent plan was accelerated by that black curtain, then Cheon Woo-jin or the divine monks' petition idea was utterly useless.

I thought more cautiously before saying,

"What if we perform the Summoning Ritual at the Heavenly Emperor Altar to summon the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and plead with them?"

It seemed far more realistic, but the Oracle replied as if it were laughable.

[Do you think the Summoning Ritual is something you do when bored? It requires sequence, authority, qualification, and celestial fortune... You think it was casual because you easily did it with Transcendent Cheon Woo-jin's help... Put simply, without Cheon Woo-jin's aid, it's impossible... And right now Cheon Woo-jin is now in extreme focus restoring the Heavenly Emperor Altar at Mount Tai...]

"......"

[To suggest to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors via Summoning Ritual would take at least a month...]

I sensed the order was wrong.

'I should have consulted the Oracle first.'

Then we could have tried the ritual first to save time. But now Cheon Woo-jin had cut off all access, pouring his shamanic power and concentration into restoring Mount Tai's Heavenly Emperor Altar. Without his help, we'd be twiddling thumbs for nearly a month.

The Oracle subtly added,

[But... if you give me both that bracelet and the holy relic... I'd be willing to assist with the Summoning Ritual instead.]

"Really?!"

[Yes... I also want to see the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors after so long...]

An unexpected offer!

I hurriedly asked Zhuge Sa,

[Zhuge Sa! What do you think?]

Zhuge Sa sounded incredulous.

[Hey. On what basis?]

[Huh?]

[Baek Woong, you've been flailing without a plan, so how did you suddenly think to visit the Oracle? Your thinking leaped without basis—I couldn't follow.]

Huh? Listening to him, it did feel that way.

I scratched my head and replied,

[Just a hunch...]

[Explain more clearly.]

[Since I might die anyway, why not gather info first before dying...]

[......]

After a stunned silence, Zhuge Sa burst into mad laughter.

[Kahahahahaha!! So that's how it works if you assume you'll die! Indeed, a reincarnator.]

[That weird?]

After a moment, Zhuge Sa stopped laughing and said,

[Do it. No harm.]

[Great.]

Soon after, I removed the bracelet from my wrist and handed it over with the holy relic. The Oracle, delighted, wriggled his tentacles briefly. Then he smirked and said,

[Easy mark...]

"Huh?"

The Oracle quickly retracted.

[I was so grateful I babbled nonsense. Let's go, then.]

"......"

It felt like I'd heard something ominous, but I decided to ignore it.

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