Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Vajra Indestructible!

I was familiar with the term. It referred to the absolute pinnacle of protective prowess in martial arts, regardless of internal or external cultivation—a legend of the martial world in its own right. Some praised exceptionally tough and powerful external hardening techniques as Vajra Indestructible, but the true meaning was far more profound.

True Vajra Indestructible meant one could block attacks from the Qi Reinforcement Realm with mere superficial wounds. Even intent-based ultimate techniques like thought-controlled flying swords could be withstood similarly. If someone achieved this, the supreme experts of the martial world tacitly agreed to call them the Vajra Indestructible Divine Body, no matter the method.

The reason for this peculiar consensus was simple: no one suspected of possessing Vajra Indestructible had ever truly appeared in the martial world. Many experts dismissed it as a mere illusion born from the reclusive cultivators of qi arts held for an unattainable extreme.

In other words, a realm of fantasy!

I couldn't help but blurt out to the Sword Demon.

"Vajra Indestructible? Just because you've become an apostle of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors..."

"The fact that you didn't show off proves it."

"Martial Uncle. What do you think? I believe Baek Woong has achieved Vajra Indestructible. Do you agree?"

At those words, the Shadowless Sword Emperor gravely nodded.

"...I acknowledge it."

"......!!"

"The attack just now carried one-strike-kill power due to my own inadequacy. Any human would have had their body split into a cross by the Soul-Exiting Sword Qi the instant it hit, then exploded into dozens of pieces. Yet Baek Woong emerged with mere scratches. That's unmistakably the Vajra Indestructible Divine Body!"

Hearing the Shadowless Sword Emperor's words left no room for doubt. With these two as witnesses, no one could offer a different interpretation. Only someone who had transcended human limits—like the White Lotus Cult Leader, one of the Twelve Laws Masters, or Musashi—might disagree.

A moment later, I traced the gash on my body with trembling fingers. This time, not even a scar remained; the injury had completely healed.

Gasp."

"Monstrous. It even has regenerative powers..."

The Sword Demon stared at me with genuine astonishment. And rightly so—the Shadowless Sword Emperor's Soul-Exiting Sword Qi was an unparalleled sword technique honed by a transcendent expert over nearly a century. Even unleashing full-power sword force, drawing protective qi with immense internal energy typically resulted in injury or death. To recover fully in less than a quarter hour defied all common sense.

Zhuge Sa, who had been watching from the side, then grinned.

"Hey, Baek Woong."

"What?"

Shing!

Zhuge Sa drew his longsword. Suspecting the worst, I shot him a glare.

"Let's just poke your gut once."

"You mad bastard!"

I yelped in shock, but Zhuge Sa replied calmly.

"Why? With Vajra Indestructible and regeneration, we need to test the limits. That way we can gauge durability and reduce fatality risks, right? Just two or three times..."

"You're spouting bullshit like it makes sense. Forget it!"

I was so flabbergasted that I forgot how well I'd synced with Zhuge Sa before. Any normal warrior would have been awestruck or moved by the Vajra Indestructible display. But this deranged demonic scholar wanted to gut me first to test its performance. I'd never fully grasped it since he was my ally, but this guy was a bona fide lunatic.

The Sword Demon gave Zhuge Sa a weary look before turning to me.

"Baek Woong, Zhuge Sa isn't entirely wrong. But no need for gutting with a blade. Testing by inflicting a wound yourself isn't a bad idea."

"Hmm..."

"Let's try something simple."

Convinced by the Sword Demon, I regained my composure. After a moment's thought, I raised my own sword and slashed my forearm.

'Without drawing protective qi, just a plain slash on my flesh...'

Drip!

The first test drew blood, as expected. But even pressing hard, the blade barely sank half an inch. It felt like my body had become taut yet flexible, something otherworldly. Not even the muscles were truly cut, sending chills down my spine.

'Now, channeling qi into the sword...'

Blood flowed again, same sensation. Infusing substantial internal energy to form sword qi and slashing deeper still didn't exceed a certain depth. No crippling injury to the arm. I knew emergency treatment with my medical skills would allow combat without issue.

Finishing silently, I let out a sigh.

"Whew... Incredible ability."

"And then some. To think I'd witness true Vajra Indestructible in my lifetime..."

The look of awe wasn't just on the Sword Demon; the Shadowless Sword Emperor shared it. With good reason—my combat power had skyrocketed the moment I gained the Vajra Indestructible Divine Body.

Even without gains in overall martial insight or transcendent techniques, blocking an opponent's intent ultimate with scratches was monumental. Against equals, defeat became impossible. Mutual destruction favored me utterly. Plus, death risk plummeted. No better blessing existed.

Then Cheon Woo-jin, watching with disbelief, spoke up.

"Martial artists really interpret things to suit themselves."

All eyes turned to Cheon Woo-jin. Perched on a rock, he grumbled curtly.

"Let me ask one thing: has anyone here actually seen a true Vajra Indestructible owner?"

At least I hadn't.

"Kekeke."

Zhuge Sa just chuckled vacantly and shook his head, clearly saying no. Glancing subtly at the Sword Demon and Shadowless Sword Emperor, they coughed awkwardly.

"Ahem... Rumors of a Shaolin divine monk reaching that realm..."

"I've seen Qi Unification Breath or Golden Bell Mastery adepts... but nothing qualifying as Vajra Indestructible..."

Cheon Woo-jin smirked, as if he'd expected that.

"See? You're just shoehorning Baek Woong's visible ability into what martial artists imagine as Vajra Indestructible because it looks closest. Whether Jeon Uk's gift is truly that—no one in the world knows for sure."

"Unknown? You saying Baek Woong's power isn't Vajra Indestructible?"

"I didn't say that. Just that it could be some other ability resembling it."

"Hmm."

Cheon Woo-jin's words rang true. Jeon Uk hadn't explicitly called it Vajra Indestructible. Zhuge Sa interjected.

"Alright, we'll figure out your apostolic power soon enough. For now, let's save time and move."

"Agreed."

We disbanded shortly after. The Sword Demon and Shadowless Sword Emperor were martial artists at heart, so they returned to their posts. I had no further pretext to keep Cheon Woo-jin, and when I suggested going to see the Fire Yao together, he flatly refused.

"No."

"Aren't you curious about the Seven Luminaries?"

"Curious, sure—but only from a safe distance. You're obviously heading to clash with Fire Yao's guardian. Why should I risk my neck in that? Asking me to fight for free?"

"......"

"Don't try to use people for nothing."

With that blunt retort, Cheon Woo-jin vanished via shrinking earth technique. I smacked my lips, knowing he wasn't wrong. Among recruitable allies now, he was top-tier, versatile, but impossible to control easily.

Zhuge Sa said.

"Let's hurry. Better to prep in advance."

"Prep?"

"Plant eyes and ears, right?"

I grasped his meaning instantly. Arriving at Mount Tai's fortress, Zhuge Sa and I approached the commandants comatose from the Demon Fox King's spells and cast the Soul Separation Grand Method on them. With their souls secured, I could hijack their sight, hearing, or control actions anytime. This counted as practical experience for the Soul Separation Grand Method.

I returned to the Long Ridge Gorge with Zhuge Sa. Pondering, I asked.

"Zhuge Sa. Any issue grabbing Fire Yao right now?"

With the barrier gone, fetching Fire Yao was a cinch—like flipping my hand. Just teleport there and back. But after my prior reckless attempt left me burned by its flames, I sought the strategist's input.

"Heh. Knew you'd ask that."

Clunk!

As Zhuge Sa stepped on a pedal to mechanically skin a beast hide, he continued.

"Wait it out. For a sure shot, we need solid prep."

"What do you mean?"

"Baek Woong. Remember? The other treasure hidden in Fire Yao's seal..."

"Ah!"

I realized with a shout.

"Dragon Flower Water!"

Dragon Flower Water!

One piece of intel I'd obtained before.

[The Leader clearly asked to find the Dragon Flower Water. After that, I gained free access to the White Lotus Cult and could even chat superficially with the guardian lions. I traveled the world seeking its existence.]

[The Dragon Flower Water the Leader mentioned is an ancient primordial strain imbued with divine power allowing Maitreya's descent. It's also a site where Buddha-like divine beings can manifest.]

[The Dragon Flower Water warms its seeds by Fire Yao's flames beside its secret treasure, awaiting eons. Find Fire Yao's hiding spot, and you'll get the Dragon Flower Water too.]

Intel spilled by Dongbang Mu-gyeol, one of the Five Great Poison Experts! It concerned the Dragon Flower Water hidden near Fire Yao's treasure.

'Hmm, Dragon Flower Water...'

I'd been too fixated on Fire Yao's difficulty to consider it. Sorting my thoughts, I said to Zhuge Sa.

"Zhuge Sa. In the Peach Garden where I saw Fire Yao, only peach trees—no Dragon Flower Water. You think it's buried nearby?"

"Probably."

Clunk.

Pressing the pedal again to slice the hide, Zhuge Sa said.

"That's why wait. Grabbing just Fire Yao? We could now. But that misses the Dragon Flower Water. And if Jeon Uk restores the barrier upon taking Fire Yao, our shot vanishes."

"Right..."

I groaned at the oversight. Maximize gains by snagging both. Zhuge Sa stopped skinning, stood from the device, and said.

"Unknown what divine object Dragon Flower Water is, but the White Lotus Leader sought it to cure the Young Leader's strange illness for a reason. He vaguely knew of the Seven Luminaries yet prioritized it—note that."

Something clicked, and I said.

"Dragon Flower Water cures curses like the Black-White Lotus?"

"Most likely. The Leader's an erudite demonic scholar—probably read of it in some tome. He tasked Dongbang Mu-gyeol only with location, not powers."

Zhuge Sa crossed his arms matter-of-factly.

"The Leader sent him knowing exactly what Dragon Flower Water does. Meaning he knows it best in the world. Knowing powers means he knows harvest methods too."

"Hmm..."

"See what we gotta do?"

I nodded.

"Extract max info on Dragon Flower Water from the Leader."

"First learn what it is, then plot quick acquisition. Can't just earth-escape and plow the Peach Garden."

To learn, negotiate with the Leader. I mulled the unexpected prerequisite.

'To end up tangled with the Leader like this...'

I didn't hate him, but allying rashly or joining his banner was impossible. His desired Law of No-Birth No-Death and True Emptiness Realm were too perilous, risking massive backlash from the Heavenly Realm or ancient rulers. Without power to control him via Seven Luminaries, allying meant repeating my 19th life's end.

Zhuge Sa grinned.

"...But bartering scraps for high intel? Your treasures are limited after all those tributes to get here."

"Urk..."

Painful truth. I'd started with heaps, but lavished on Great Thunder Immortal, rituals, Cheon Woo-jin—now bare essentials only, hardly abundant. Plus, the sly Fox Leader might fleece me dry.

"What to do?"

Pondering fruitlessly, I asked Zhuge Sa's opinion. He replied.

"I said that, but contacting the Leader's too risky. Better find another who knows Dragon Flower Water. Only one fits."

"......?"

Zhuge Sa's eyes sharpened.

"Negotiate with the Zhu Rong Clan in the Southern Barbarian Moon Kingdom."

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