Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm (天界)

[ I don't want to ride the Four Divine Images. ]

As I tried to put him on the Four Divine Images, the Prophet spoke up immediately.

"Why?"

[ The Four Divine Images are spirit beasts, and their energies clash with my magic... It'd feel like sitting on a bed of thorns. ]

"But the distance to the Heavenly Emperor Altar."

I asked in bewilderment. This was a remote land thousands of li from the Central Plains. A little further, and we'd reach the Arana Priest Kingdom; beyond that, the Western Regions. From a spot right on the cusp of the Western Regions, how could we possibly reach the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains?

The Prophet then said,

[ I've divided the location of the Heavenly Emperor Altar with obsidian... Mount Hua suits me fine, so let's do it there. ]

[ I'll handle it, so don't worry... ]

Shruuuk!

No sooner had the Prophet finished speaking than he vanished.

"Huh."

Some spell or magic? As I stared in shock, the inner Zhuge urged me on.

[ Let's go. ]

"What did that guy just do?"

[ Used magic, obviously. He's probably already there. ]

"No, even so, it's thousands of li from here to the Five Great Mountains..."

Teleportation spells or shrinking-earth techniques existed in the arcane systems. But even those could only cover a thousand li for the skilled, and anything beyond a hundred li was beyond most grand sorcerers. A spell that crossed thousands of li in one go defied all common sense.

Even if the Four Divine Images moved via the heavenly spirit beasts' superhuman powers, and the Flying Cauldron was built for travel, thousands of li in a single casting? Without borrowing tools, I could never match that otherworldly mobility.

Zhuge chuckled darkly.

[ That Prophet is the king of the Zhu Rong Clan, an ancient monster who'd lived since before the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. A demigod, a transcendent being from beyond the stars. Just knowing of his existence could drive an ordinary human mad. His clan's magic far surpasses the Eight Trigrams-based sorcery, enabling miracles like that spell. ]

"Hmm... So sorcery is weaker than magic?"

[ You know from experience that's not the case. Skill and talent matter most. If sorcery were inherently weaker, how would you explain Illusion Sage Cheon Woo-jin's power? ]

"Mm."

Fair point. Among all the sorcerers I'd faced—like Zhuge or Sangwan Hyeok—none surpassed Illusion Sage Cheon Woo-jin. Zhuge, excited by the topic of magic, continued.

[ Magic and sorcery both stem from the ancient overlords' authority. Sorcery's just a more specialized system. Magic has far more advanced human sacrifice methods and higher limits. ]

"So it's ultimately a power that grows by grinding people up."

[ Better than a talentless life wearing itself out to nothing, right? ]

"..."

Zhuge's words tempted me for a moment. Ignore talent entirely, fill the gaps with human sacrifices, and grow strong—nothing could be easier. But I quickly steadied myself and said,

"Let's go."

Shruuuk.

Moments later, I arrived at Mount Hua's Heavenly Emperor Altar. Nearby, three Water God Clan experts waited. Spotting me, they prostrated immediately.

[ We greet the Vice Leader. ]

I glanced around. As ordered, the Water God Clan experts had seized the Mount Hua Sect's headquarters and secured the altar without bloodshed—no bloodstains or battle marks anywhere.

"I command you: Stay away from this area. For the next day, no one enters within five li. Relay this to the Mount Hua Sect."

[ Understood. ]

"If any Mount Hua bastards approach, kill them."

[ Of course. ]

Harsh orders, but this matter was too critical. If they ignored warnings, they were idiots fit only for death. As the Water God Clan experts scattered via lightness skill, I approached the Heavenly Emperor Altar.

Wuuung.

With a flash of black light, space warped, and the Prophet appeared. He'd arrived early and hidden to avoid detection. He said,

[ You're here... Then let's begin. ]

"Wait. What's needed for the Consecration Ritual again?"

I decided to double-check.

[ Sequence, authority, qualification, and proper timing. ]

"You know it all?"

[ Changhi, who devised the Consecration Ritual, shared its details with me... I know everything worth knowing, including the sequence. ]

"Authority, qualification, timing?"

[ You're the Moon Wheel's master, recognized by the heavenly realm, and have the ritual's authority... For timing, I'll align it with my magic. As for qualification, you've profited from the ritual multiple times, so you surely have it. ]

A calm glow suddenly emanated from the Prophet's body.

Paaaaat!

[ We can perform the Consecration Ritual right now... But first... Decide what to offer and what to demand. ]

When the glow faded, he'd taken a human form—unexpectedly. Like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' envoy I'd seen before, clad in ancient ritual robes. Not fully human, though: dark energy roiled from his body, chitinous plates protruded from his face, and his eyes gleamed with menace, evoking terror.

Puzzled, I asked,

"Why suddenly transform into human form?"

[ The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors dislike our clan's true appearance... No sense earning their enmity. ]

"Hoo. They dislike your clan's form..."

An unexpected revelation. As I probed curiously, the Prophet said,

[ What will you offer? What will you demand? ]

"..."

After careful thought, I said,

"... I'll offer the Portrait of the Ghostly Noble and the demon beast's bracelet, and demand the Heavenly Emperor's activation be halted."

[ Indeed. But isn't the price too low? ]

I replied bitterly.

"We can offer more mid-ritual, right? We'll adjust as needed."

Offering the Imperial Seal and Moon Wheel would multiply the value tenfold, but I couldn't risk it rashly. Losing them would leave me penniless, unable to engage in the massive events ahead. The risk of failure was too great; I had to deliberate.

[ Possible. But... Not ideal. ]

The Prophet crossed his arms, tone displeased.

[ This concerns heaven and earth's fate, yet you act on impulse... No contingencies for failure? No precise calculations? ]

"Ugh..."

His accurate criticism made me flinch. True, I'd come on a whim, without a solid plan. Just protesting to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors via ritual to stop the Heavenly Emperor—no perfect strategy. And this was arguably the most critical moment of my current life!

Realizing the flaw, the Prophet said,

[ I'll wait here a day. Discuss countermeasures with that Leader fellow and return... ]

"With the Leader?"

[ He holds many of your treasures. Recovering them would boost success greatly. Plus, he has unique White Lotus Leader treasures... ]

"Ah."

Of course!

His advice rang true, so I said hastily,

"Thanks!"

[ Stop making mistakes... I'm trading precisely for the holy relic you gave. ]

"..."

A chill ran through me. The Prophet traded without mercy or concession. That advice wasn't kindness—it was just fulfilling the relic's value.

I swiftly mounted the Four Divine Images and returned to the Leader.

"Leader. I have something to say."

I explained the situation to him. I mentioned the Thunder God Clan's interference but omitted Yi Cheong-un's existence. Finishing, I concluded,

"... So, in my judgment, rather than provoking the Thunder God Clan, better to secure the Five Great Mountains and perform the Consecration Ritual to maximize success..."

[ Baek Woong. So you want me to offer my treasures for the Heavenly Emperor Altar ritual too? ]

"Blocking the Heavenly Ladder is the top priority now, isn't it?"

[ Hmmm... ]

The Leader pondered deeply. After a long while, he said,

[ I need time to think. Wait one hour outside. ]

"Yes."

I sat outside for the hour. When I returned, unexpectedly, the Leader tossed me the Flying Cauldron and Neck Guard.

[ Take these. ]

"Are you sure?"

[ That's not all. Follow me. ]

"...?"

I was stunned. The Flying Cauldron and Neck Guard were magic artifacts rivaling the world's finest swords. Returning what he'd taken from me as offerings was odd enough—but not the end?

Soon, I followed the Leader somewhere. We exited the White Lotus Church fortress's main gate, dismissing even his elder council guards. Sending away his elite protectors suggested an extraordinary destination.

Whirring.

Using incredible lightness skill, we arrived at a fortress. I called it that because it was a massive structure carved from an entire mountain. Yet the walls clearly bore artificial craftsmanship.

Clunk...

Activating mechanisms, the Leader opened a huge iron gate and walked in, saying,

[ Everything you see from now is the White Lotus Church's—and Water God Clan's—greatest secret. ]

"Yes?"

[ If this leaks, I'll tear you apart painfully, even if the world ends. ]

The ultimate secret!

And the Leader's threat!

He held the clearest grasp of the church's dire straits. He knew I feared death little. Yet he threatened torture-killing anyway—profound implications.

A secret worth abandoning all and tormenting me over if compromised!

"... Understood."

The Leader chuckled lowly.

[ Heh. Never thought I'd share this in my lifetime. Even after achieving my long-sought Imperial Palace purge, things twist this far... Life's chaotic twists indeed. ]

I'd never heard such a monologue from him. I followed him through dark secret passages, past caverns. Then, dozens of circular tunnels with ancient scripts appeared; he chose one confidently.

'A maze.'

And he knew the exact path. Something worth this guard lay within.

After countless twists,

[ We've arrived. ]

A massive altar glowed under luminous pearls. Triangular, each tier etched with unrecognizable eerie script. Spiral staircases draped around it like decorations, hundreds of blue flames hovering nearby.

Wuuuuu—

"Leader. That altar... and blue flames?"

[ Those are souls. ]

"Yes?"

[ Feeding them. ]

He extended a hand.

Paaang!!

An explosive sound revealed a faint transparent barrier. Murmuring in the Zhu Rong tongue against it, he withdrew after a while and said,

[ A barrier bars non-Water God Clan entry. I've temporarily disabled it. ]

"Yes."

We ascended the inner spiral stairs slowly. Walking them felt familiar—classic Zhu Rong architecture. Confirmation the Leader was a magic master versed in their lore.

Leading, he said,

[ I gained my power in youth from this ruin. ]

"Ruin? Isn't this the Water God Clan village?"

Yes.

This artificial mega-fortress was their village. They lived cloistered here, not in the church headquarters. I'd glimpsed it distantly entering.

[ Yes. ]

Affirming, he climbed the floating stairs vigorously.

[ As a child, I was a bookworm, from the White Lotus priest bloodline. No interest in martial arts. My lifelong duty: preserve priestly knowledge for posterity and lead church rites. ]

"..."

[ Then, I deciphered an ancient text with Dharma Ancestor's notes. Learned of a hidden ancient ruin inside this mountain. Pursued it relentlessly—pure thirst for knowledge. ]

He paused.

[ And found it. This Heavenly Dark Altar. ]

"Heavenly Dark Altar?"

He nodded.

[ Dharma Ancestor created the Non-Birth Namo Sermon with outer god aid, but its chaotic power shattered across the world. He perished then. Yet to ensure the White Lotus kept the final fragment, he built this altar beforehand. ]

"The altar sealed the Non-Birth Namo Sermon?"

[ Yes. Awaiting an heir. ]

Descending the floating stairs, he stepped onto the altar's top tier.

[ I lived here long, deciphering the sermon, gaining vast power... ]

His lightness skill could've leaped up instantly, yet he stepped deliberately—this place was sacred to him. As I reached the top, he opened a stone box's lid.

Clunk...

From it, he drew a massive scroll. Flat, hundreds of layered sheets. Material unknown.

But seeing it, my heart pounded.

Breath caught.

What was this feeling?

Dizziness, heart bursting.

Unaware of my turmoil, he offered it.

[ Can you grasp it? ]

Gritting teeth, I reached. But immense shadowy darkness shrouded my mind.

Pak!

I awoke to his slap. I'd blacked out reaching for it. Embarrassed, I shook my head.

"Ugh... Passed out, huh."

[ Impressive. ]

Amazed, he said,

[ None before touched it—most vaporized opening the lid here. You withstood the chaos, even tried grabbing it, and only fainted. ]

"..."

[ Some died eyes burned just looking, brains twisted. ]

Casually voicing horrors, he pocketed the scroll.

[ I can hold it thanks to Dharma Master's teachings: proper incantations, drawing the chaos into my primal spirit for assimilation. Before mastering it, I was a madman possessed with training. Ordinary humans go insane or die atop this Heavenly Dark Altar from the chaos. ]

[ Hmmm... ]

[ The magic tome's power links to the altar. Yet you're fine... ]

From his words, I realized,

"No way... That scroll is..."

[ Correct. ]

His following words foretold the Consecration Ritual ahead would be no ordinary affair.

[ This is the ancient mystery from Chao's direct lineage. The Water God's magic tome, penned by a god himself: Chao!. We'll offer it to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to halt the Heavenly Emperor Plan. ]

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