Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable tilted his head at my words and asked in return.

[Do you know what the Canonization Ritual entails and say such things?]

"Obtaining dominion over the Nine Provinces and Heavenly Fortune through the Canonization Ritual. Doesn't that mean becoming the master of All Under Heaven while simultaneously serving as the high priest meidang gods and mortals?"

[.....]

"I also know that one can summon the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, offer them tribute, and invoke divine miracles."

I calmly stated everything I knew about the Canonization Ritual. Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable, having descended into Cheon Woo-jin's body, silently flashed his gaze, as if devoid of emotion. After staring at me for a moment, Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable spoke.

[You know well. I don't know where you learned it, but splendid. But can you guess why you're telling me this?]

"Hmm..."

I looked straight at him and said.

"You are the incarnation of the Heavenly Realm's Three Pure Ones, aren't you? As one of the highest beings in the Heavenly Realm, you're naturally the one to discuss this with. Rather, it would be strange to discuss it with a mere Great Law Immortal."

[Heh.]

"I want to know first if you can grant the rights."

Previously, I had deliberately kept my distance from Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable and asked Queen Mother of the West for help, but now that I knew she was displeased with granting the Canonization Ritual rights, there was no need for that. Asking Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable directly—someone on par with or even above Queen Mother of the West—was the quickest and easiest path.

Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable then said.

[It is possible. But are you prepared to offer sufficient tribute?]

This was where it got important.

In this life, I needed to conserve treasures slightly. It wasn't just for this one Canonization Ritual; one could obtain the Flame Treasure through a series of procedures. Thus, how to allocate the treasures had already been discussed with Advisor Zhuge. I carefully recalled and opened my mouth.

"I offer this."

Rumble.

What I took from my spatial pouch was nearly all the precious metals plundered from Pirate Island and the Earth Lord's inner core. If converted to money in the martial world, it could instantly make one a top tycoon in a province. But Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable examined it closely and shook his head.

[This is insufficient.]

I believed Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable's words were true. Unlike the greedy South Flower Old Immortal, his face showed only calm indifference. It seemed material wealth alone couldn't satisfy immortals much. With no choice, I added the Twin Ghost Swords of Liu Bei, the Supreme Sovereign of Touchon.

[Ho... this treasured sword... hmm...]

Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable appeared quite contemplative. Now it was at a level worth negotiating. After much deliberation, he spoke.

[I could ask for more, but first, I'll inquire. What is your reason for offering this tribute to perform the Canonization Ritual?]

"Do you really need to know that? It's ultimately for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to decide—won't they be displeased if I reveal it in advance?"

[You're usin' petty tricks. Granting rights recklessly to someone with impure motives is far more dangerous. Think of it as the Heavenly Realm's pre-screening to spare them the hassle.]

"......"

[Speak first. Then I'll determine the tribute's worth.]

It seemed unavoidable. With no choice, I told Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable.

"I have learned the location of the Flame Treasure and seek the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' permission to obtain the rights to claim it."

[Flame Treasure!!]

Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable looked at me with interest.

[What would a mortal like you do with one of the Seven Essentials? Become an emperor?]

"I have no intention of becoming emperor. I simply have my own use for it."

[What use?]

"I can't tell you that far."

As I cut him off firmly, Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable gave me a strange look. From my position, desperate to secure the Canonization Ritual rights, it was a risky statement, but unavoidable. My intuition told me that spilling everything to someone with unclear intentions like Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable would be dangerous. Moreover, I had a strange confidence that he would accept it.

After a moment's thought, Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable said.

[Very well. With this tribute, I grant you the rights to the Canonization Ritual.]

"Thank you. I have one more request."

[What is it?]

I grinned and said.

"I've heard that the Heavenly Realm's secrets are being spied on by some freak. This conversation might even be eavesdropped by them. The location is said to be Mount Tai's Heavenly Altar. What shall we do?"

Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable responded with evident distress.

[Is that true?]

"Yes. I stake my life on its truth."

[Hmm... Then I'll command the spirit vessel Cheon Woo-jin to exterminate them.]

I raised another objection to Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable's words.

"That won't do. A powerful demonic sorcerer has set up camp on Mount Tai, guarding it, so greater support is needed. Moreover, he's extremely cautious, requiring overwhelming force."

[What are you saying?]

The opportunity had come!

"As Advisor Zhuge said, around now..."

I said to Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable.

"Since the Heavenly Realm's traitor Zhuge Yuryong is wicked and powerful, command a Fighting Immortal to punish them. Wouldn't that satisfy karmic law sufficiently?"

Cheon Woo-jin needed to continue his duties, so I couldn't recklessly infuse him with divine fire to strengthen him. Without a strengthened Cheon Woo-jin, destroying the Vermilion Bird was impossible, so borrowing the Heavenly Realm's power was the way.

If Heavenly Realm Fighting Immortals mobilized directly, even the Imperial Palace faction and Zhuge Yuryong would suffer a massive blow. Plus, with justified karmic law consumed, even the [Ancient Ruler] couldn't easily interfere.

[Then Yeo Dongbin...]

"No! I, his descendant, must perform the Canonization Ritual..."

[Fine. I'll send someone else.]

"By the way, Zhuge Yuryong can create clone bodies to prolong his life, so destroy anything suspicious. His base is near the Five Peaks Heavenly Altar."

[That would be wise. Then I shall...]

Supreme Void Heavenly Venerable, who had seemed anxious, vanished. He appeared to be in a hurry.

Moments later, Cheon Woo-jin regained his senses and spoke with a twisted expression.

"Canonization Ritual...? Where on earth did you hear such information? Rights to the Canonization Ritual... what nonsense!"

I replied nonchalantly.

"I've already discussed it with your senior brother."

"Ugh, senior brother..."

At the mention of Mang-ryang, Cheon Woo-jin shut his mouth. I continued leisurely.

"And I'd like your help with the Canonization Ritual. After all, I just canceled the order to subjugate Zhuge Yuryong that was about to come down on you."

Cheon Woo-jin flared up.

"Don't make me laugh. How far do you intend to exploit me?"

"Think about it. The matter of the Seven Essentials, whose whereabouts no one in this world knows well. If I were you, I'd want to approach the person involved and uncover their intent and purpose."

"......"

"I have a ritualist to perform the Canonization Ritual for me. If you don't want to, forget it."

As I subtly turned my head, Cheon Woo-jin shouted.

"I'll do it!"

When I looked at Cheon Woo-jin, he wore a deeply conflicted expression.

"I'll do it."

"Good thinking."

"But one thing I'm curious about—you really know the Flame Treasure's location? Confident you can obtain it?"

"You'll find out if you follow me."

"Haa, no choice then..."

Cheon Woo-jin sighed. I inwardly admired.

'Mang-ryang truly understands Cheon Woo-jin's psychology well...'

The rhetoric I used to draw Cheon Woo-jin in wasn't mine but followed Mang-ryang's advice. Before heading to cultivate sorcery with the Three Sovereigns' inner manual, Mang-ryang had advised me to approach Cheon Woo-jin for the Canonization Ritual this way. I couldn't help but be impressed by how perfectly timed and fitting his advice was, as if he'd foreseen this situation.

It was the moment Cheon Woo-jin and I left the village together.

Rumble...

Rumble...

A massive thundercloud formed over the village. Immense spiritual power flowed within it, making one flinch even from afar. Soon, something pure white burst from the thundercloud and descended upon the village, unleashing a storm of lightning.

'Ugh, gotta dodge!'

I swiftly used Shadowless Step to distance myself from the village, and Cheon Woo-jin also seemed to employ shrinking-earth technique to evade. The thunder roared even louder in my ears.

Krarung!

Watching the chaos from a hundred丈 away, I curiously asked Cheon Woo-jin.

"What's that?"

Cheon Woo-jin, observing beside me, replied curtly.

"Didn't you request a Fighting Immortal from the Heavenly Realm? They've already finished deliberations up there and descended a Fighting Immortal to smash that Zhuge Yuryong or whoever. And before heading to the mission, it seems they're seeking permission for possession from my master, the Daoist guardian."

"Descent? Right now?"

"What's wrong with that?"

I looked at Cheon Woo-jin in bewilderment.

"There's no medium or spirit medium. Even a Fighting Immortal would find it burdensome to fight in spirit form."

There was a reason Yeo Dongbin had waited a millennium for a vessel to descend. No matter how powerful a Fighting Immortal's spirit, without a body, they couldn't exert full strength. This human realm coexisted spirit and flesh. Even the mightiest Fighting Immortal might barely muster ten percent without a suitable medium.

Cheon Woo-jin then said.

"There's one in the Heavenly Realm who can descend independently and fight without any medium or spirit medium. Because he's originally the King of Yao who attained the Dao and became a Fighting Immortal."

Rumble...

Watching the lightning subside, Cheon Woo-jin said.

"Let's leave this area first. Once the Handsome Monkey King gets permission to stay from my master, it'll be chaos—better not get caught up."

I was inwardly shocked.

'Fighting Immortal Buddha, Handsome Monkey King!'

Wasn't that the Yao Fighting Immortal who blocked me when I tried breaking the Flame Treasure's barrier with that arrow recently? I couldn't forget the half-human, half-ape form riding clouds and wielding a massive staff. It seemed Handsome Monkey King had received Heavenly Realm orders to subjugate Zhuge Yuryong.

Kukwang!

Suddenly, with an explosion, a massive cloud stretched like a line toward the horizon. It looked like the trace of the so-called Handsome Monkey King moving. Not even seeing his back, I stared blankly, and Cheon Woo-jin frowned.

"Using Somersault Cloud like that. Flaunting treasures so meidantly!"

"You know a lot about Handsome Monkey King?"

"He's a celebrity in the Heavenly Realm."

After pondering, I said to Cheon Woo-jin.

"Tell me about Handsome Monkey King later. I'm curious if he'll handle Zhuge Yuryong well..."

Handsome Monkey King might become an enemy later. No harm in knowing.

Cheon Woo-jin scoffed.

"Hmph! Why worry about that? Worrying about Handsome Monkey King when there's nothing else in the world to fret over..."

"No, why? It's possible to worry."

"I told you. He's a former King of Yao turned Fighting Immortal. Possessing both immense yao power of a great yao and Fighting Immortal sorcery—how could a mortal withstand that?"

"......!!"

"Let's hurry to the Canonization Ritual. With Handsome Monkey King on the move, Zhuge Yuryong is as good as dead."

That powerful?

Just seeing Cheon Woo-jin boast assured me of Fighting Immortal Handsome Monkey King's might.

'I can't head to Mount Tai recklessly now.'

I wanted to witness Handsome Monkey King smashing Zhuge Yuryong firsthand, but getting involved might kill me. Having felt a Fighting Immortal's power in a past life, I couldn't guarantee survival with my current martial arts.

"...Then wait here a moment."

I left Cheon Woo-jin waiting and used Flight to head to Advisor Zhuge. I desperately wanted to rush to one of the Five Peaks Heavenly Altars for the Canonization Ritual right away, but summoning the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors would cause massive repercussions. Ideally, perform it at Mount Tai's Heavenly Altar. For that, I needed to wait a bit for Fighting Immortal Handsome Monkey King to smash the Imperial Palace forces there.

"Advisor Zhuge, catch!"

Arriving at Advisor Zhuge in Zhangling Valley, I immediately sealed the Canonization Ritual events into a black obsidian and tossed it to him. Reading the memories from the black obsidian, Advisor Zhuge looked intrigued.

"You handled it well."

"What now?"

"We'll switch the order."

Advisor Zhuge thought briefly and said.

"Baek Woong. Since it's come to this, go with Cheon Woo-jin to Dongyoung's black obsidian mine and extract the giant black obsidian. With his sorcery, it should take days at most. Then head to Mount Tai for the Canonization Ritual."

"Got it."

I returned to Cheon Woo-jin and headed with him to Dongyoung's black obsidian mine. Cheon Woo-jin's face twisted upon arriving at the foreign mine out of nowhere.

"What is this? Why here? Weren't we doing the Canonization Ritual?"

"Handsome Monkey King is probably scouring and smashing around the Five Peaks anyway—too dangerous now. Help with my errand since we're partners."

Cheon Woo-jin shouted.

"No way! Who works for free out of passion? Shut up and pay hazard pay."

"......"

With no choice, I gave Cheon Woo-jin gold bars from the Xu Yao ruins. Taking them, Cheon Woo-jin said.

"Hmm, so I need to extract that giant black obsidian, but pulling it would collapse the mine—troublesome?"

I nodded.

"Need to build retaining walls to remove it—too much hassle."

That's why, despite knowing the giant black obsidian's location across reincarnations, I'd only extracted it once successfully through grueling luck. Repeating it was too laborious and inefficient. Cheon Woo-jin peered at the giant black obsidian, extended both hands, and said.

"Urgent Labor Rate Command!"

Boom!

Instantly, a thud echoed outside the mine. Startled, I turned, and Cheon Woo-jin said.

"Moved the black obsidian outside. Replaced the stratum with a similar-volume mineral. That should do it."

"What sorcery is that?!"

Cheon Woo-jin shrugged mockingly.

"Sorcery you don't know. Can't even use Peaceful Yao Arts properly—what good knowing it?"

"......"

I newly realized the fatal reason I'd never made Cheon Woo-jin a true ally by giving him black obsidian before.

Damn... Next time, I'll master sorcery to mock you back.

What a pain!

Gritting my teeth inwardly, I resolved to elevate my sorcery realm somehow in this life.

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