Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

After descending Shin Dan-su with the Twelve Rites Lord, I heard from him about the origin of his martial arts.

"Taiji begets Wuji."

The Twelve Rites Lord continued.

"My martial prowess started from there. By shedding the self and directly confronting the microcosm, the walls vanished."

"Taiji begets Wuji... Is that the name of your martial art?"

"...I don't know why you're asking something like that, Baek Woong. Do we really need to give form to something formless? Accepting it as it is—that's the beginning."

"......?"

I had no idea what he meant. As I tilted my head, the Twelve Rites Lord gave a wry smile.

"......?"

I had no idea what he meant. As I tilted my head, the Twelve Rites Lord gave a wry smile.

"It seems best not to talk about martial arts until at least one layer has been peeled away."

"Was that just now the martial philosophy of the Absolute Realm?"

"Ugh..."

The Twelve Rites Lord let out a groan as if fed up, then said.

"You casually divide realms like the Absolute Realm, but that's just arbitrary interpretation. It's merely a label the world slapped on for convenience. Those who have crossed that threshold called the Absolute Realm have martial flows as vast as heaven and earth, infinite and boundless—no way to pin them down precisely."

"......"

"Don't create boundaries for yourself. That's the path to self-destruction."

It felt like I was being scolded. But knowing this came from an Absolute Realm expert, I couldn't take it emotionally. At my current level, I couldn't gauge the profound energy hidden in those words.

'This is tough...'

It felt like a far greater wall blocked me now than when advancing from Peak Realm to Transcendent Peak. Was this why Lee Cheong-un had only passed on the potential of the Seven Great Absolute Arts without delving into the Absolute Realm? It seemed understanding that defining the Absolute Realm actually builds the wall was the starting point.

The Twelve Rites Lord continued.

Great Absolute Arts without delving into the Absolute Realm? It seemed understanding that defining the Absolute Realm actually builds the wall was the starting point.

The Twelve Rites Lord continued.

"Anyway, as for sorcery... I learned it from the Three Sages, and everything else was self-taught. My sorcery master is the Three Sages."

At those words, I glanced at the ones called the Three Sages—Yun-sa, U-sa, and Feng-baek. They stood by the Twelve Rites Lord's side, their expressions unchanging. As he said, it seemed they had taught him sorcery. Curious, I asked.

"How old are you and the Three Sages?"

The Twelve Rites Lord smirked at my question.

"You can't ask a woman's age, but a man's is fair game?"

"That's not what I—"

"Shall I ask them directly? Yun-sa! U-sa! Feng-baek!"

"Yes."

The Three Sages replied respectfully, and the Twelve Rites Lord asked.

"How old are each of you?"

The Three Sages answered in turn.

"Three thousand four hundred fifty-seven years."

"The same."

"The same."

"......"

Because they reincarnated."

"...Pardon?"

"As you said, divine spirits are mental entities without a medium; they can't linger long in the material world. They need a strong vessel. But the Three Sages transplanted their origins to earth, repeatedly reincarnating to maintain their existence in the material realm."

"......!!"

I couldn't help but be shocked. Xiang Yu's words suddenly flashed in my mind.

[I never expected to fight Dang Ki, but it was fun enough. So as a parting gift, I'll teach you one more thing.]

[No... what could you possibly teach me... I'm already dead. What's the point?]

[Because you lack the Seal of Oblivion. You'll likely reincarnate.]

[Seal of Oblivion? What's that?]

[Every soul in the cycle of reincarnation is imprinted with the Seal of Oblivion. But very rarely, it fades or is absent from the start. Such souls reincarnate with their memories intact.]

Yes, that was it. Xiang Yu had said reincarnators definitely exist in this world, and to distinguish them, one must see the Seal of Oblivion. Those without it could reincarnate with memories.

'So the Three Sages deliberately erase their Seals of Oblivion with divine power to reincarnate.'

Unfortunately, I had no sorcery to detect the Seal of Oblivion. Even with Foresight Vision, Peng-jo had sealed the Heavenly Nation Jade Seal's functions, leaving only spirit power extraction viable. That's why I couldn't see beyond that puppy mask.

It suddenly occurred to me, so I said to the Twelve Rites Lord.

"By the way, I haven't heard your age, Lord."

Peng-jo had sealed the Heavenly Nation Jade Seal's functions, leaving only spirit power extraction viable. That's why I couldn't see beyond that puppy mask.

It suddenly occurred to me, so I said to the Twelve Rites Lord.

"By the way, I haven't heard your age, Lord."

"My age? Thirty-two this year, I think."

"......"

"You look skeptical. Well, with the mask, it's hard to tell."

I eyed him.

"That's strange too—why wear a full-body mask?"

"To protect me from the twisted flow of karma."

Same answer.

I'd asked him before why he wore the full-body mask, and now he mentioned the twisted karmic flow again, replying identically. If I let it slide this time, it'd haunt me forever. Bracing for death, I pressed again.

"What do you mean by twisted karmic flow? Are you saying meeting me is ill-omened?"

He might get annoyed or angry, but I couldn't ignore it. Before, I'd brushed it off as meaningless, but now I realized he only wore the puppy mask when meeting me. As I stared, the Twelve Rites Lord nodded.

"Exactly."

"......!!"

"I always divine heaven's will before major undertakings. With my sorcery combined with the Three Sages', we can read most futures. The divination for our meeting showed a twisted

"Exactly."

".......!!"

"I always divine heaven's will before major undertakings. With my sorcery combined with the Three Sages', we can read most futures. The divination for our meeting showed a twisted karmic flow that would harm me, yet it cradled a massive opportunity."

He took a sip of water and continued.

"That's why I wanted to meet you more. There was something peculiar about that ill omen."

"Peculiar how?"

"Amid a colossal karmic flow swirling with menace toward me, you—the bearer of that omen—appeared as utter nothingness, unreadable by any divination. One embracing ill omen must be a harbinger of doom, yet you were chaos beyond any diviner's sight."

"......"

"That's why I can't remove this mask while meeting you. The divination said it would shield me from karma. While masked, your harbored doom can't touch me."

So that's how it was.

Now understanding why he'd worn the mask during our meetings, I felt relieved. Having said that much about himself, the Twelve Rites Lord told me.

"I've shared enough about me—now tell me your martial background."

"Yes."

I explained learning the Thunder God Style's martial arts. Of course, revealing the Seven Great Absolute Arts would make me his target, so I omitted it. He seemed uninterested in lesser arts, listening boredly before saying.

Yes.

I explained learning the Thunder God Style's martial arts. Of course, revealing the Seven Great Absolute Arts would make me his target, so I omitted it. He seemed uninterested in lesser arts, listening boredly before saying.

"Got it. You achieved powerful martial arts young because of the Millennium Snow Ginseng and excellent Thunder God Style instruction?"

"Yes."

"Fine, but what about the dragon's power?"

I spoke of the Fire Dragon True Person. Since he already assumed I had the Seven Essentials, hiding it seemed pointless. When I recounted summoning and fighting the Fire Dragon True Person in the imperial palace, he pondered before asking.

"When can the Fire Dragon True Person revive?"

"I think within a year or two... but not certain."

"I see. Still, definitely a major asset."

Muttering that, the Twelve Rites Lord said.

"Alright, as the Twelve Rites Sovereign, I propose this: Let's launch the Sea God subjugation immediately."

"How? I haven't heard any plans."

"The plan is simple."

Crossing his arms, he outlined the "plan."

"From what I've scouted, this peninsula, continent, and East Sea region have six Sea God bases. They form the Six Watch Stars pattern, serving as sources of potent demonic power. From now on, you and I will smash those merfolk cities one by one."

His words jogged my memory.

'Hm. Come to think of it, near Pirate Island...'

Right after reincarnating, while subjugating the Blood Island Pirates, I'd looted their treasures. That's when I learned of an undersea city near Pirate Island teeming with alien merfolk. It was also a vile place for human sacrifices.

Cautiously mentioning Pirate Island surroundings seemed suspicious, he replied.

"I know. It was on my list."

"Wait..."

I exclaimed in shock.

"If you knew, why not subjugate the Blood Island Pirates? They ravaged coastal folk and merchant ships with unspeakable atrocities!"

My question was utterly reasonable. Knowing of them, why hadn't he acted? He responded.

"Even one or two Twelve Rites sects could wipe those pirates effortlessly. But the Sea God's forces watch our every move. If our elites subjugated the pirates, those merfolk would've relocated their base from our hard-scouted spot."

"......"

"Could you comb the ocean floor dozens of li deep to find alien lairs? To wipe them out at once, I had no choice but to leave them."

relocated their base from our hard scouted spot.

"......"

"Could you comb the ocean floor dozens of li deep to find alien lairs? To wipe them out at once, I had no choice but to leave them."

Fair enough.

And as he said, my solo action meant the merfolk didn't see it as Twelve Rites involvement, so they didn't move. But I still couldn't accept it, glaring at him.

"The powerless commoners you sacrificed for the greater good were slaughtered or enslaved—hundreds at a time!"

Without my rescue, they'd still suffer or die, new slaves tormented by pirates. He replied indifferently.

"Regrettable. But toppling the Sea God matters more."

".......!!"

I felt my goodwill evaporate. Clenching my fists to contain rage, he said.

"Baek Woong, righteous fury is good. Without anger, humans can't survive. But what value does it have in death and defeat?"

"Value?"

"Defeat leaves nothing. By any means, without scruple—victory is all. Otherwise, again..."

Muttering reminiscently, the Twelve Rites Lord said.

"Enough. Pointless talk. You've a deal with me—time to move."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Sealing!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

Suddenly raising his hand, Twelve Rites sect leaders appeared around the manor where I stood. All faces I'd seen before.

'Like a cult leader summoning guardian beasts?'

As I scanned them, Twelve Rites Lord Ha Eun-cheon said coldly.

"We'll now eradicate the six Sea God bases in sequence. Baek Woong, use the Fire Dragon Divine Sword or Seven Essentials power to seal their demonic forces."

Feasible. Even without the sword awakening, the Heavenly Nation Jade Seal or Fire Essential could manage. Worried, I asked.

"Isn't this too rushed?"

"With ample power, why rush? You're busy too—better help me quickly, no?"

"......"

Ha Eun-cheon smirked.

"For reference, the real thing starts once all six are sealed."

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