Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

I arrived at the Zhongnan Sect alongside Jin So-cheong. The location within the Zhongnan Sect where I appeared was a lake, a secluded retreat favored by the sect leader, Yeon Jeong-hong. It was also near this lake that I had once clashed with Lee Hwang in a fierce spar.

Paat!

As Jin So-cheong and I walked a short distance toward the lake, Yi Cheong-un appeared before me in a flash of lightning, as if he had been waiting. His speed was utterly invisible, terrifying as ever.

He said to me,

“You’ve arrived well, Baek Woong!”

“Yi Cheong-un. What is the meaning of this? Why did you block the White Lotus Cult...?”

When I protested to Yi Cheong-un, he chuckled.

“You’ve probably guessed. It’s to see you again like this. I’ve heard that the omens in Luoyang are unusual, and that the Heavenly Realm is attempting to lower the Heavenly Ladder.”

He even knew that?

I questioned him warily.

“How did you find out about that?”

“Through Beggar Immortal, I’ve seized control of basic information networks in the martial world. Additional intelligence from the Heavenly Realm came from my personal secret methods. The sudden intervention of the Heavenly Realm must be quite troubling for the White Lotus Cult as well.”

I was stunned.

“Beggar Immortal? You mean the former Beggars’ Sect Leader?”

“Indeed. He’s a friend of mine.”

“……!!”

Beggar Immortal!

He was one of the Three Great Eccentrics of the righteous factions and the master of the current Beggars’ Sect Leader, Heavenly Dragon Beggar Gu Ik-hwan. Like the Mount Tai Old Man or the Divine Monk, he rarely showed himself in the world, but tales said his fame in the past martial world pierced the heavens. He was known for his hot-blooded nature as a chivalrous rogue who loved heroic tales, and his martial prowess was said to be extraordinarily profound.

But to think one of the Three Great Eccentrics, Beggar Immortal, was friends with the Thunder God Lineage’s guardian lion, Yi Cheong-un? Their ages made it plausible, but it was such an unexpected connection that I couldn’t help being shocked. Yi Cheong-un continued,

“I’d like to know what you came to say to me.”

Composing myself, I said to Yi Cheong-un,

“If the Heavenly Lord descends, it won’t just be the White Lotus Cult—calamity will befall the entire world. And with only about forty days left until then, I ask that you and the Thunder God Lineage experts lend your aid.”

“As expected.”

Muttering as if he had anticipated it, Yi Cheong-un looked up at the sky.

“The Cult Leader has always been like that. Hiding a thousand schemes in his heart, making pragmatic choices without distinguishing friend from foe. And now he’s come to ask the Thunder God Lineage for help…”

“………”

“Baek Woong. Let me say one thing. I deliberately blocked the White Lotus Cult at the Nine Great Clans to summon you here for the same purpose.”

“Yes?”

“I’m proposing an alliance with the White Lotus Cult as well.”

Shocking words!

What… what did he say?

I doubted Yi Cheong-un was making it up, so I couldn’t accept it right away and just stared at him blankly. After all, the White Lotus Cult was the enemy that had toppled and driven out the Thunder God Lineage—why would they reach out first?

Yi Cheong-un smiled bitterly.

“I’m no fool. No matter how deep the Thunder God Lineage’s grudge, it becomes meaningless if the world ends. And more importantly, I’ve realized that grudge isn’t even truly significant…”

“……?”

Staring at me intently, he said,

“Baek Woong. May I ask a favor?”

“Speak.”

“Arrange for me to meet the Cult Leader.”

The conversation was progressing at breakneck speed. I couldn’t grasp how the situation was unfolding, and my mind reeled. Yi Cheong-un’s few words had turned my logic upside down. Calming myself after a moment, I said,

“Please explain why.”

Yi Cheong-un chuckled and said,

“I want to see with my own eyes how much the Cult Leader has comprehended of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts.”

“And once you’ve confirmed?”

“It’ll be to judge his qualifications. If the Cult Leader falls short, we’ll refuse the alliance on our side.”

“………”

I gaped in disbelief.

To question the qualifications and level of the supreme White Lotus Cult Leader!

Where did this audacious confidence come from? Yi Cheong-un was undoubtedly the most arrogant being among all the martial artists I’d ever encountered. Of course, I knew his prowess far surpassed that of a guardian lion, and that decades ago, he had clashed with the White Lotus Cult Leader at the absolute pinnacle. Yet, having witnessed the White Lotus Cult Leader smash even the Great Thunder Immortal right beside me, I simply couldn’t comprehend Yi Cheong-un’s confidence.

‘This… this is the Thunder God Lineage and its practitioner.’

I had no choice but to respond to Yi Cheong-un.

“…A-alright.”

“Jin So-cheong alone will suffice to accompany us.”

Paat!

Soon after, I arrived at the Cult Leader’s location, carrying Jin So-cheong and Yi Cheong-un. The Cult Leader, floating in the air in meditation, turned his senses toward us at the unexpected visit. As I felt the Cult Leader’s piercing gaze, Yi Cheong-un descended from mid-air and said,

“Long time no see, Cult Leader.”

[……]

The Cult Leader was silent for a while. Then, as if quite flustered, he continued slowly.

[...So that's it... I speculated about the Thunder God Lineage's revival, but it was too absurd to believe... Yet this is the truth...]

“Hahaha.”

[It’s been a while, Yi Cheong-un.]

The Cult Leader’s form slowly descended to the ground. After a long silence, he said,

[I thought the Heavenly Spirit Pill was destroyed back then, leaving your dantian shattered and meridians irreversibly damaged… How did you recover? And have you been alive all this time?]

Yi Cheong-un smirked in response.

“You should know that best of all. The severed connection has been restored.”

[……]

“Still as enigmatic as ever, past and present.”

The Cult Leader fell silent, but I could sense his fluster in that silence. Yi Cheong-un’s words seemed trivial, but they had struck at the Cult Leader’s core. I racked my brain to decipher Yi Cheong-un’s meaning, but the conversation had already resumed.

[So you’ve come all this way to challenge me?]

“No. I’m not fool enough to face you head-on. You know I wouldn’t.”

Replying thus, Yi Cheong-un pointed at the Cult Leader with his index finger and said,

“I’ve come to check if you’ve learned well. It’s simple and straightforward—you’ve learned from me, so as your master, shouldn’t I verify?”

Learned well?

Master?

Yi Cheong-un’s words strung together incomprehensible terms. I was curious what he was hiding, but the atmosphere between the two left no room for me to interject. The Cult Leader pondered, then grasped Yi Cheong-un’s intent and said,

[You mean you’ll decide on the alliance after seeing my enlightenment?]

“Your perceptiveness is as sharp as ever.”

The Cult Leader growled, slightly angered.

[Arrogant… Fifty years ago, you lost to me, Yi Cheong-un. Having clung to life since then, you dare spout nonsense at someone who’s advanced a step further?]

“Puhahaha!!”

Yi Cheong-un burst into laughter. Then he said,

“Listen, Cult Leader. Do you know what I’ve thought about every day since reviving in this world? That day—why I lost. And I’ve figured out the reason.”

[What?]

Yi Cheong-un’s following words were shocking.

“There were no traitors in the Thunder God Lineage…you were my disciple. That’s why I couldn’t win. You observed me constantly, honing yourself to the bone to find my weaknesses, while I knew nothing of you. That day, too, you called me after thorough preparation, didn’t you?”

[……]

“But that was just a temporary measure. Now I know what you’re pursuing, and even what the Primordial Infant God is, so there’s nothing to fear.”

Swipe.

Yi Cheong-un took a step forward. The atmosphere froze coldly, tension mounting tautly. Their glaring staredown manifested as changes in nature itself—proof in the cloud sea above shattering, space warping with killing intent.

Kugugugu…

Watching their standoff, I still couldn’t comprehend the prior exchange.

‘Yi Cheong-un as master? Cult Leader as disciple? Was the Cult Leader part of the Thunder God Lineage?’

But that was impossible. Master and disciple—a relationship antithetical to these two sworn enemies. Yi Cheong-un had alluding to some hidden secret, and the Cult Leader’s silence confirmed it as truth, leaving him speechless.

[Zhuge family] laughed inwardly.

[Puhuuhu… I get it. Primordial Infant God… What a ridiculous power.]

[What is it?]

[Promise to give me a body, and I’ll tell you.]

[Damn it. Get lost.]

[Kekeke.]

Zhuge family didn’t seem to be lying. What exactly was the connection between these two?

“Here I go, Cult Leader.”

[Hum.]

Moments later, Yi Cheong-un slowly drew his spear. As far as I recalled, this was the first time I’d seen him use one.

Suuuuu.

Yi Cheong-un’s spear was silent.

Mere stillness wouldn’t be remarkable—martial fundamentals include unmoving mind and posture maintenance. But what I witnessed was motion within stillness, and stillness within motion.

The surroundings sank into hush.

Fallen leaves drifted in infinite silence for what felt eternal. That span was merely two blinks, yet to all present, it felt like a day.

Breaking the silence was the Cult Leader’s pristine white palm print.

The hand spun in an instant, showing me thousands of afterimages. Surpassing speed-born illusions, it seemed a profound art imprinting his will via intent.

The Cult Leader’s Heart Heaven Boundless had already activated. No different from when he clashed with Sword Immortal Ye Dong-bin.

The thousands of hands descended softly enveloping, infinitely gentle and slow, yet upon skin contact, palm pressure crushed like steel. Subtle tenacity choked breathlessly.

Unbelievable as a mere mental phenomenon, those Thousand Hands bore overwhelming reality. Before long, the space ahead crumpled, imprinted fully with palm marks.

In that instant, Yi Cheong-un became lightning, firing a single surge of momentum.

Thunder God Soul

Cloud Radiance Annihilation

Its form seemed too crude to pierce or slash, yet it perfectly swept away the Thousand Hands’ pressure, freeing the witnesses from the profound illusion.

It was impermanence taking formless form.

Contradictory, but no other description fit.

Chiriirung!

The scattered Thousand Hands dispersed into thunder spirit alongside heaven and earth. The Thunder God’s spear graze rent spacetime.

The White Lotus Cult Leader stood with one hand raised before his chest in Buddha homage. Yi Cheong-un’s spear halted one inch from the Cult Leader’s hand in single thrust stance. The world sank with them.

At my level, I couldn’t fathom the exchange that had just occurred. But the Cult Leader, sensing much from this initial clash, muttered,

[…Martial Intent is truly ruthless. One cannot stop until attainment. That is the curse the Martial God left me…]

“………”

[Yet… Yi Cheong-un, can you reach it without Martial Intent’s madness…? Is this the gap in talent?]

Agony laced each of the Cult Leader’s words. The clash appeared equal, but it had given the Cult Leader a slight sense of defeat. Yi Cheong-un withdrew his spear; in that moment, the spear tip crumbled to dust and vanished.

Passeu…

“You’re quite the talker, considering you’d win if we fought in earnest anyway.”

Replying thus, Yi Cheong-un said nonchalantly,

“Alliance formed. Let’s topple the Heavenly Realm or whatever first, then settle things after.”

[Agreed.]

Incredibly, the alliance between the White Lotus Cult and Thunder God Lineage was forged right here.

‘Amazing.’

I shuddered, realizing this life showed unprecedented progress.

Witnessing and sensing absolute pinnacle clashes repeatedly!

If I harnessed this inspiration for relentless training, I too could one day reach their realm—that anticipation swelled.

At that moment, Yi Cheong-un said,

“Won’t that hidden guest say a word?”

Suwiik.

As Yi Cheong-un finished, Miyamoto Musashi appeared like a will-o’-the-wisp not far from them. He had waited concealed by slicing space itself, as before.

‘Had the Cult Leader not noticed?’

But the Cult Leader’s lack of reaction suggested otherwise. He had likely sensed Musashi’s arrival but feigned meditation. The two absolute experts had eyed each other, gauging when to speak, until I brought Yi Cheong-un.

Miyamoto Musashi said,

“White Lotus Cult Leader. The Law Lord refused the alliance.”

The Cult Leader said disappointedly,

[Is that so….]

“Instead, I’ve been dispatched temporarily.”

Musashi’s words allowed multiple interpretations, so the Cult Leader asked,

[Will you fight alongside us against the Heavenly Realm?]

Musashi nodded.

“I want to try beheading an immortal.”

[Good. You’re welcome.]

The Twelve Laws’ response was decided in this instant. Not an alliance with the White Lotus Cult itself, but special envoy Miyamoto Musashi joining as an ally.

‘Incredible.’

Shuddering as I contemplated our forces.

Three absolute pinnacle experts!

Undoubtedly, the strongest coalition in martial history had formed.

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