Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

......

In that split second—

Yi Cheong-un was the first to unleash the Thunder God Spirit Soul, turning one of the Water God Sect elders at the vanguard into mincemeat. The speed of the Thunder God Spirit Soul was so far beyond the realm of ordinary martial arts that the elder's face and chest exploded open as if it were mere child's play, sending a fountain of blood surging into the air.

But in the very next instant, the elder stretched out his hand as if utterly unfazed and unleashed a massive palm strike toward Yi Cheong-un. Infused with the pure power of the Heavenly Spirit Pill, that palm force carried the might of a natural disaster, forcing even the unparalleled Yi Cheong-un to dodge for the moment. The palm force spread out over a dozen zhang, blasting a gigantic pillar into the sky.

Boom!

"What the hell?"

Something was off. A normal human would have died instantly from that. Yet this guy was counterattacking without a scratch. The word "immortal" flashed through my mind just as Cheon Woo-jin, standing beside me, raised his hand.

"Defense."

"Sword Immortal. The power of the [Ancient Ruler] is emanating from the altar, rendering them immortal for now. I can only dispel their immortality briefly with my spells, so don't miss that opening."

[Understood.]

The Illusion God Cheon Woo-jin had grasped the state of the battle from just Yi Cheong-un's single strike. And the task now assigned to Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin was singular: strike a fatal blow against the Dharma Protectors in the fleeting moment when Cheon Woo-jin nullified their immortality!

Boom boom boom!

Terrifying sounds of destruction and vibrations echoed from beyond the white barrier. The Dharma Protectors had all launched a simultaneous assault to shatter it. Blood trickled from the corner of Cheon Woo-jin's mouth as he formed a hand seal with his fingers.

"Go!"

Crack!

As the barrier shattered, Yeo Dong-bin shot forward. The power of the Fire Dragon Divine Sword erupted in a blaze of massive flames, thrusting toward the Water God Sect elder directly in front with the momentum of Sword and Man as One. He was Dugu Yu, roaring ferociously from behind his mask.

[I fear not even you, Sword Immortal!!]

The rotating qi from Dugu Yu's twin palms surged, firing out at tremendous speed alongside a burst of black light. It had to be Dugu Yu's signature ultimate technique. But in that instant, Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin executed the Earth Edict of the Heavenly Escape Sword Art, parrying each twist of the twin palms one by one. In the very next exchange, she drove her sword tip into Dugu Yu's throat.

Splurt!

The fight ended in a single exchange, but hundreds of calculations had passed in between. Dugu Yu's enlightenment fell short of Yeo Dong-bin's, leaving him no choice but to expose a fatal flaw in that gap. Dugu Yu spat blood in frustration. A curse mark, as if cast by Cheon Woo-jin himself, had already been etched onto his body, shattering his immortality.

[Cough... Leader... please... carry on your will...]

Whoooosh.

A halo of light emanated from Dugu Yu's entire body. Normally, it would have been too late to evade.

Boom boom boom!!

But Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin, drawing on her experience, knew it was an ultimate master's final technique—condensing and detonating one's qi for mutual destruction—and swiftly retreated. Moments later, Dugu Yu's body exploded in a massive blast of destructive light. Yet even that had been anticipated; her battle experience transcended the human limits.

[Hasp!]

At the same time, I could sense Yeo Dong-bin drawing immense power from the National Seal. No matter that she was the Sword Immortal—even exchanging blows with the Heavenly Spirit Pill masters using extreme mental fortitude would deplete the internal energy of my body significantly. I thought to myself in admiration that, at this rate, Yeo Dong-bin could single-handedly crush all the Dharma Protectors.

'Huh? But why isn't she using the Fire Dragon Divine Sword's full power or Wol-yo's?'

Strangely, Yeo Dong-bin's recovery seemed prioritized toward the National Seal. Wol-yo and the Fire Dragon Divine Sword were divine treasures too—what was the reason? As I pondered this, the battle raged on breathlessly.

Clang!

Boom boom boom!

Over there, Han Baek-ryeong and two Water God Sect Dharma Protectors were ganging up on Yi Cheong-un. Perhaps wary of overturning the Thunder God Spirit Soul recklessly, Yi Cheong-un had initially struck hard to inflict heavy damage, but now he was merely evading at high speed. Even Yi Cheong-un had no means to slay immortals.

[Sword Immortal!!]

Water God Sect's Dugu Jun suddenly charged at Yeo Dong-bin and threw a punch. Sensing Dugu Jun's martial realm far surpassed Dugu Yu's, the Sword Immortal evaded rather than clashing head-on. Dugu Jun accelerated even faster in pursuit, unleashing a barrage of fist shadows.

Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin's eyebrows twitched as she observed Dugu Jun's assault.

[Seven Stars Shadow Step!]

[A secret art imparted by the Leader. Prepare yourself!]

Swoosh!

In that moment, I felt Dugu Jun's movements halt as if frozen, then split into dazzling, illusory images. It was likely a new ultimate technique combining the Water God Sect's footwork with the Seven Stars Shadow Step. The Sword Immortal calmly pierced its essence with Moonlit Void Gaze, then swiftly skewered a single point in the sky to repel Dugu Jun.

[Urk.]

Dugu Jun's shoulder blade was nearly shattered by the sword aura, a grave wound, yet it visibly regenerated in seconds. He caught his breath and glared at the Sword Immortal.

[Our White Lotus Cult stands here staking everything. You immortals and your hollow self-righteousness of justice—is that what blocks us?]

The Sword Immortal replied calmly.

[As I said, the demonic path cannot save humanity. No matter your grand cause, you are mere monsters now, no longer human.]

[...]

[Slaying monsters is precisely my duty, Yeo Dong-bin.]

Her words seemed serene, yet chillingly cold. In that instant, I sensed Yeo Dong-bin had become a perfect killing machine, devoid of pity or humanity. With all distracting thoughts purged from combat, she was stronger than ever.

Seven Great Ultimate Arts

Arcane Meaning

Spider Underworld King

Believing the other three would wear down and eliminate Yi Cheong-un while he held off Yeo Dong-bin, Dugu Jun unleashed his full power in one go. Though not matching the Leader's prior execution, shockwaves like qi rippled from his hands and exploded. The Spider Underworld King, once deployed, wrought endless transformations to slaughter all in its vicinity—I knew its power better than anyone.

Yet Yeo Dong-bin calmly raised her Fire Dragon Divine Sword in counter.

[Even if the Leader used it, I fear it not—your enlightenment makes it impossible!]

Heavenly Escape Sword Art

Six Intents Sacred Heaven Diagram

Cloud Edict

Yeo Dong-bin's form seemed to split into thirty-six in an instant. Her sword shadows spread hundreds of times wider, eventually forming a sword cloud. The sword cloud she wove from countless sword forms severed the Spider Underworld King's transformations before they could expand, engulfing Dugu Jun.

Boom boom boom!

[Cough hack!!]

Dugu Jun, his Spider Underworld King pulverized, screamed and flew backward. But thanks to immortality, he recovered from the instantly fatal wound in a flash, conjuring ten serpent dragons in the air to attack Yeo Dong-bin. As she dodged the serpents and glanced back, Cheon Woo-jin hovered there, gritting his teeth with beads of sweat on his brow.

"Damn it... The altar's power is growing, strengthening the immortality seals."

[What?]

"Sword Immortal! Unless you tear that one to shreds first, I can't negate the immortality."

[Understood.]

The Sword Immortal scattered white aura, amplifying the Fire Dragon Divine Sword's power further. Emanating immense pressure, she made even Dugu Jun tense greatly. Yet he bared his teeth in resolve.

[I won't give up! I can't reach the Leader!]

Boom boom boom!

As Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin's Six Intents Sacred Heaven Diagram hammered relentlessly, Dugu Jun resisted desperately. His intent concentrates, fueled by the Heavenly Spirit Pill's infinite internal energy, blocked it, but the Sword Immortal's marksmanship was invincible, exploiting gaps to shred his limbs each time. After fifteen such exchanges—enough to kill a normal man dozens of times over—Dugu Jun rose again like a weed.

Dugu Jun spat blood.

[I... can't... reach...]

Watching the Sword Immortal overwhelmingly dominate Dugu Jun sent chills racing across my skin. At his current level, Dugu Jun was a monstrous force rivaling the world's best, save the Leader—yet she slew him dozens of times?!

The Sword Immortal regarded Dugu Jun and said,

[A fine warrior.]

Their eyes met. Gazing deeply at him, the Sword Immortal said,

[Men like you perish in vain... this world truly is mad...]

Thud.

About fifty exchanges later, Dugu Jun could no longer withstand the Six Intents Sacred Heaven Diagram's continuous sword edicts and scattered as mangled flesh. Cheon Woo-jin, watching from behind, barely managed to lift his immortality at the last, and Dugu Jun vanished completely.

Step...

[Ugh...]

As Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin's victory was sealed and she approached the remaining three Dharma Protectors, they all wore resigned expressions. Blood-soaked as they were, the addition of an absolute realm supreme expert left them without hope.

[Urk.]

[Think we'll lose?]

Yi Cheong-un, who had evaded with Thunder God Spirit Soul speed while occasionally attacking, halted his Thunder Spirit Transformation. Sighing, he said,

"Han Baek-ryeong. Why stake your life on such brutal savagery?"

......

Among the Heavenly Spirit Pill bearers, Fire God Sect Dharma Protector Han Baek-ryeong alone bore no wounds. Or rather, she had blocked every one of Yi Cheong-un's Thunder God Spirit Soul attacks. Her eyes gleamed unnaturally bright, like flickering crimson flames. Watching her, Yi Cheong-un said,

"Using the Fire God Spirit Soul, which exhausts even the Heavenly Spirit Pill... you're insane."

"To counter your speed, no other way."

"Wielding that crude, unfinished technique alongside the Twelve Meridians Dragon King Slash... you truly disregarded the future."

Muttering in disbelief, Yi Cheong-un gazed at her solemnly.

"The Leader sacrificed even the Fire God Sect. Will you still follow?"

"You bastard... what do you know? While you've been dead all this time."

Growling, Han Baek-ryeong spat her hatred.

"I didn't choose to stay. All paths were blocked. So now, no choice but to go all the way!"

Han Baek-ryeong was resolved to fight to the death.

The Sword Immortal regarded them calmly, then suddenly took a massive step forward. I felt her sharply drawing power from the National Seal.

[Roar!]

Boom!

With a thunderous bellow, her single step made Han Baek-ryeong and the two elders stagger back. Seizing the gap, the Sword Immortal swiftly swung her sword, and in the next moment, their major acupoints were sealed, robbing them of consciousness. Yi Cheong-un said in astonishment,

"Sword Immortal. How did you..."

[Mind Sword.]

"That doesn't work on Heavenly Spirit Pill experts."

Yi Cheong-un asked dubiously.

[It wouldn't on their original selves. But against those who embraced chaos and darkness, the Mind Sword of Breaking Evil and Revealing Truth pierced true. Especially in their emotionally turbulent state, admitting defeat...]

Explaining thus, the Sword Immortal looked up at the altar and addressed Cheon Woo-jin.

[Illusion God Cheon Woo-jin. Still can't breach the barrier above?]

"Not yet."

It seemed Cheon Woo-jin had been dispelling the Dharma Protectors' immortality seals while simultaneously working to pierce the barrier around the Leader atop the altar's summit. Without his continuous sword edicts and scattered as mangled flesh, Cheon Woo-jin, watching to join the fray directly, so he'd pre-emptively erected that shield. In other words, breach that barrier, and snapping the Leader's neck would be like twisting a child's wrist.

"At this rate, we might not break it."

[Hmm...]

"That's a barrier only an apostle could deploy."

I'd never seen Cheon Woo-jin so uncertain. Surprised inwardly, I heard the Sword Immortal murmur,

[Indeed. Backed by tens of thousands of lives to connect with the Ancient Ruler. But fail to breach it, and the human realm falls.]

"Sword Immortal. Yi Cheong-un. No choice but to strike the barrier at full power together."

[...]

Yeo Dong-bin fell silent. Yi Cheong-un did too. That silence meant both knew Cheon Woo-jin's proposal was their only option, yet the odds of success were minuscule. Even with Yeo Dong-bin's Wol-yo, National Seal, and Fire Dragon Divine Sword, the Chaos Barrier was an entirely different beast. No guarantees anywhere.

But no choice.

Yeo Dong-bin gathered Wol-yo's power and the Fire Dragon Divine Sword's entirely, concentrating it into her sword tip. Focusing her mind for a time, she flashed her eyes open and charged the altar's peak.

Boom!

One strike cracked the dark power encircling the altar massively. A transcendent being wielding Seven Desires and treasures' might simultaneously—even an apostle-grade barrier couldn't remain intact. Yet Yeo Dong-bin groaned.

[Dangerous...]

Cheon Woo-jin and Yi Cheong-un followed with one strike each at the crack, but inflicted little damage. That barrier's defense was absurd. Yeo Dong-bin refocused, gathering Wol-yo's power again, then said to me,

[My liege. The battle ahead will be the worst.]

[What?]

[If we lose, you—flee without hesitation...]

Before I could reply, Yeo Dong-bin rocketed toward the altar again.

Crack!!

The altar's barrier finally shattered! As darkness and chaos dispersed, the Leader's translucent form came into view. But after breaking it, Yeo Dong-bin merely landed atop the summit, not immediately striking the Leader's neck.

Yi Cheong-un and Cheon Woo-jin did the same. They simply stared at the Leader standing at the barrier's center.

Why?

The still Leader eventually looked around and said,

[That was close. Had the Dharma Protectors not bought a full incense stick's time, I'd be dead.]

Boom.

Cheon Woo-jin died.

It happened abruptly.

With a short explosion, Cheon Woo-jin's body vanished without trace, yet Yeo Dong-bin and Yi Cheong-un couldn't tear their eyes from the Leader.

The Leader's form had warped into something chaotic, like when battling the Great Thunder Immortal before. No longer human.

[I shall not let their sacrifice be in vain.]

In that moment, Yeo Dong-bin's battle experience screamed dire warning.

The Leader had always been a grand demonic sorcerer apostles.

If such a being had amassed power anew through tens of thousands' human sacrifices, and received an apostle's might and blessing once more...

The Leader before us was undoubtedly God's Apostle at peak historical strength.

The Leader bellowed with grudge-laden resolve.

[I shall absolutely attain True Emptiness and Return to the Fragrance!]

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