Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

[What nonsense is this! How dare a human make demands of a Great Rakshasa Immortal!]

The South Flower Old Immortal looked ready to explode in anger. But I spoke calmly.

"I'm simply asking for the recompense due for the spirit offering."

[Passing a Great Rakshasa Immortal's spellcraft to a human goes against the will of heaven. Powerful spellcraft disrupts the balance of the earthly realm, so it is forbidden by the laws of the celestial realm.]

Just as I had expected, I grinned.

"In that case, I'll add more offerings to make up the difference."

[What?]

The South Flower Old Immortal's eyes went wide, as if this were the last thing he had anticipated. Seizing the moment, I began subtly lifting treasures one by one.

[Uhmm...]

"And here, the sheathless Muramasa and various precious metals..."

[......]

The South Flower Old Immortal appeared deeply conflicted. Then, with a fake cough, he spoke.

[Hmm! Hmm! Isn't this a bit lacking in sincerity...]

"Yes?"

Avoiding my gaze, the South Flower Old Immortal looked up at the sky and clasped his hands behind his back.

[Sincerity! A bit more sincerity, and... I'll consider it...]

"......"

Whoa... he's being way too blatant!

Was a Great Rakshasa Immortal supposed to reveal himself like this?

'Ugh... disgusting!'

In that instant, I realized that the immortals so revered and envied by mortal Daoists didn't need to cultivate the Dao or refine their character. The South Flower Old Immortal's behavior was no different from that of a corrupt human.

But for now, I hid my disappointment and glanced at Mangryang beside me. Since Zhuge the Strategist was a demonic sorcerer and couldn't enter the village to participate in the offering rite, Mangryang was the only one who could assist me here. He nodded as if he understood, then laid down the law to the South Flower Old Immortal.

"South Flower Old Immortal! Don't you think your greed has gone too far?"

The South Flower Old Immortal scowled.

[Where does some mortal from the human path get off interfering?]

"I am your disciple Mangryang before I am a mere mortal. Even the recompense from the spirit offering alone should suffice, yet Baek Woong has generously added extra offerings out of sincerity. And yet you, South Flower Old Immortal, are blinded by wealth and dismissing a human's good intentions."

Mangryang sharply criticized the South Flower Old Immortal, then pointed toward the shrine of Lady Yeo Dongbin behind us.

"If you insist on treating us with such contempt, I have an idea. I'll offer recompense to my master and ask him to come subdue you!"

[Huh?!]

The South Flower Old Immortal looked utterly shocked.

[You... you think that's possible?! Even for Je Mangryang...]

"It is entirely possible."

Mangryang's follow-up words surprised me a little.

"Don't you know my master fears the celestial realm not one bit? I thought you, of all people, would know that best, South Flower Old Immortal!"

[......]

I slipped in slyly.

"Since you've shown excessive greed first, I'll withdraw all the additional offerings. Hand over the Peaceful Essential Art."

[Y-You insolent...]

"And if you refuse..."

As I took a subtle step toward Lady Yeo Dongbin's shrine, the South Flower Old Immortal flinched. He had no choice—after all, he had once been obliterated in a single blow by Je Mangryang in the past. If we seriously asked Je Mangryang to subdue him, the South Flower Old Immortal wouldn't escape with his bones intact this time.

He cried out desperately.

[You arrogant mortals! Fine, I admit my greed got the better of me, but it's true that the celestial mandate and recompense don't match. The Peaceful Essential Art is a Great Rakshasa Immortal's spellcraft, so at minimum, hand over the statue of Emperor Whole Jade and the Muramasa.]

Ugh, that guy...

I felt irritated, but at that moment, Mangryang transmitted a thought to me via spirit speech.

[Baek Woong. He's right this time. Truth be told, the Peaceful Essential Art is a rather grand spellcraft to obtain with just the spirit offering.]

It was a valid point. Though the spirit offering contained thousands of years' worth of immense natural spiritual energy, the Peaceful Essential Art was a powerful spellcraft capable of manipulating and resurrecting hundreds of thousands.

[Hmm... shall we compromise here?]

[That would be best. Push him too hard, and he might curse us before leaving.]

[Understood.]

After exchanging thoughts with Mangryang, I nodded.

"Very well."

[Kehm.]

Moments later, the statue of Emperor Whole Jade and the Muramasa vanished from the altar. Having received his recompense, the South Flower Old Immortal extended his hand toward me, eyes gleaming.

[Then, receive the Peaceful Essential Art...]

Wooong

After extending his hand toward me for a long while, transmitting spiritual energy and memories, the South Flower Old Immortal spoke in bewilderment.

[What? What's this? Oh no...]

He staggered backward clumsily, so I tilted my head.

"What is it?"

[...It prickles.]

"Pardon?"

He bellowed.

[It gives me chills!! To think you'd have no talent at all...]

"......"

[Urgh... must I give it to someone so utterly talentless... It'd be a waste even for a superior immortal.]

"You have to. It's a contract."

[Hmph!]

The South Flower Old Immortal finally completed the transmission. And just like that, I gained knowledge of the Peaceful Essential Art—its cultivation methods, background, everything—in my mind. It wouldn't increase my spiritual power just from receiving it, but now I possessed one more Great Rakshasa Immortal spellcraft alongside the Heavenly Nerve Classic!

Once the offering rite ended, Cheon Woojin blinked sleepily, looking fatigued, and said to me.

"Baek Woong... You know what the Peaceful Essential Art is, right? And you still took it?"

"Of course I do."

"Good grief... There are better spellcrafts out there, so why that one..."

Muttering in disbelief, Cheon Woojin crossed his arms.

"I'll warn you now: don't cultivate the Peaceful Essential Art to start a cult or deceive the masses. If you do, I'll come find you and punish you myself."

Feeling a bit annoyed, I shot back.

"Who are you to punish or spare me? Is cultivating the Peaceful Essential Art a crime in itself?"

"It might be."

"Huh?"

"The Peaceful Essential Art is classified by the Central Plains' spellcraft sects as bordering perilously close to evil arts. It includes necromancy to control the dead and illusionary deception, so it's only natural. As a result, many practitioners fell to wickedness and corruption. It's infamous for producing cult founders or madmen."

"......"

So that's why the South Flower Old Immortal was like that?

"I'll admit it's appealing and powerful enough to attract cultivators despite the high risk of corruption."

"I'll handle it myself, so don't worry."

"Tch, tell you this, and you still talk shit."

"You're the one talking shit."

I stated firmly and left the village with Mangryang. Outside, we found Zhuge the Strategist waiting and informed him that I had obtained the Peaceful Essential Art.

Zhuge the Strategist asked.

"So, can you use the Peaceful Essential Art now?"

I shook my head.

"No. I don't get it at all."

"Explain in more detail."

"Well... it's like when I received Mangryang's 200 years of spellcraft and experience as a superior immortal. This massive knowledge is crammed into one corner of my head, but I can't comprehend it."

"That figures. It's an entire spellcraft tradition dumped into your mind."

With a skeptical tone, I said.

"But does this really work?"

"Of course!"

Zhuge the Strategist declared confidently.

"As far as I know, the Peaceful Essential Art has one more ability beyond the necromancy and illusionary arts you saw. That ability is manipulating the weather."

"Hmm..."

"If you reach great attainment in the Peaceful Essential Art, you might even hasten a total solar eclipse. That's the caliber of a Great Rakshasa Immortal's spellcraft."

Zhuge the Strategist chuckled.

"Though I wonder when a guy struggling with just the Great Divorce Art and Three Treasures Absolute Skill will master it..."

But I didn't waver at Zhuge the Strategist's words. After all, I had already sworn to oppose the gods and witness their end, regardless of time.

"I can't obtain the Flame Wish right now, so I'll put it off for later."

Forcibly repeating great fortunes to acquire the Flame Wish could wait. Now that I had strategists Mangryang and Zhuge the Strategist in this life, I needed to gather more information first.

Looking at Mangryang, I said.

"Mangryang. Do I need to make contact with the Thunder God Style in this life?"

"I'm not sure. In your memories, the Thunder God Style moved so erratically..."

Mangryang let out a short sigh.

"But if I give standard advice: in this life, save the power of reversal as much as possible. Now that it's clear you can use it only once, you must be even more cautious."

"That's exactly my thinking."

Zhuge the Strategist picked up the thread.

"And one more thing. If it were me, I'd start digging into the Twelve Rites from now on."

"That's what I had in mind."

Replying to Zhuge the Strategist, I pondered briefly before saying.

"But I'm torn between starting from the bottom after initiating into the Twelve Rites or negotiating directly with the Rite Lord."

We all agreed that in this reincarnation, we needed to challenge the Twelve Rites and uncover their secrets. Among the three great powers dividing the world, the Gods and methods of the Imperial Palace and White Lotus Cult had become fairly clear, but we had no idea what the Twelve Rites or their Rite Lord were truly thinking. To devise a strategy against the Twelve Rites going forward, I needed to investigate them now.

Simply put, I could just use the power of reversal to assassinate the Rite Lord, but I disliked relying on the jungle ruler, and somehow borrowing divine power felt pointless. I could try after learning more about the Twelve Rites.

Zhuge the Strategist said.

"Do whatever you want. You always barrel ahead on your own anyway, dying or surviving from some absurd problem. And somehow you snag a crucial clue out of nowhere."

"......"

"I'll be at the Valley of Ghost Spirits then."

Paat

Zhuge the Strategist cast a bizarre spell, summoning a grotesque demonic beast to ride. It was called a Byakhee, a creature capable of tremendous speed. Once the Byakhee vanished, Mangryang spoke.

"Baek Woong. Right now, you have endless stratagems you could attempt."

"I know."

"Whether me or Zhuge the Strategist, we have mountains of advice and possibilities we'd love to share. But we hesitate to speak easily because the scope of your adventures has grown so vast that no human wisdom can fully encompass it."

Mangryang looked up at the sky.

"Take the White Lotus Cult's Heavenly Spirit Pill, for example. We all operated under the assumption we had to obtain it, only to learn it was a trap. This world is full of the unpredictable. And in this situation, the most important thing is your instinct as a reincarnator."

"Hmm... So you're holding back advice to avoid interfering with my senses?"

"Exactly."

Mangryang nodded and continued.

"You can now choose your path by your own will, so we can't treat you like a child and force stratagems on you. Hone yourself and pick the path that looks promising. Whatever it is, I believe it will yield good results."

With that advice, Mangryang departed as well.

"The consideration of strategists, huh."

From an efficiency standpoint, it would be best for Mangryang and Zhuge the Strategist to stick by my side, devising complex strategies together. But their choice to go about their own tasks stemmed from belief in my 'instinct' being correct.

I thought it over deeply and made up my mind.

"Then, shall I go meet the people I haven't seen yet."

Right away, I used the Wooden Armor and Flying Steed to release everyone I had rescued so far. After freeing the pirate captives, I visited the Shadowless Gate and returned Sword Demon's daughter, Seomoon Hye, while handing over my black obsidian.

Having read my memories, Sword Demon seemed greatly surprised.

"Ugh...!! So that's what happened."

"Sword Demon Elder. I have a request."

"What is it?"

"I've brought all the women victimized by the Nangong Family here. Persuade the Shadowless Sword Emperor Elder to cooperate in punishing the Nangong Family."

"......"

Sword Demon crossed his arms and fell silent. Then he spoke.

"I think I understand your intent. You're resolving the prisoner issue while introducing me to the Shadowless Sword Emperor, right?"

"You could see it that way."

"Fine. It costs me nothing, so I'll do it. But..."

Sword Demon trailed off.

"Now I'm worried about you..."

As I looked at Sword Demon, he continued.

"I can tell your resolve to fight the gods is genuine. But to treat your own life as a mere means to that end... I'm concerned you might wear down your humanity and turn into a monster someday."

I sighed.

"Gate Master. Humanity is useless against the gods..."

I had faced them directly and died over twenty times, coming to that realization—which led me to choose the path of staking my life.

"...I see."

Sword Demon gave a bitter smile and rose from his seat.

"Then, I'll be off."

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