Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Receiving instruction on the Seven Great Ultimate Arts grounded in the Six Harmonies from Jang Sambong gave me a completely different sensation compared to learning from Yi Cheong-un or the Cult Leader.

'It feels like this is exactly how it should be.'

In truth, the content of the teachings themselves hadn't changed much; it simply referenced the circulation of the Six Harmonies. Yet that alone transformed the experience—from stumbling through a dark cave by the faint light of a torch to walking a sunlit path in broad daylight. Up until now, I'd relied on genius and intuition to link the Seven Great Ultimate Arts, but now I could organize them along a systematic flow.

Thanks to this, in just a single day, my understanding of the linkages in the Seven Great Ultimate Arts—which had eluded me before—grew tremendously. I even felt like I could now grasp the Eight Great Possibilities.

However, Jang Sambong expressed reluctance at the mere mention of the Eight Great Possibilities.

[The Eight Great Possibilities are of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts, yet not of them.]

"What do you mean?"

[They are a separate possibility, forged from the fruits of your decades-long research combined with the foundation of the Thunder God Style. During my own cultivation of martial arts, I never imagined such a combination was possible. In other words, Yi Cheong-un and Jin So-cheong created something that never existed in this world.]

"Yi Cheong-un and the Cult Leader said all possibilities lay open. So I thought Master Jang had arranged everything..."

[Of course, it was I who researched the Supreme Ultimate and Six Harmonies to unlock those possibilities. But one who can 'open' them is a once-in-millennia genius in their own right. You've cultivated, so you know—it's not like mixing random secrets produces results.]

"That's true, but..."

At a glance, it might seem like blending any secrets from the Six Ultimate Arts would yield a divine technique, but each secret was profound and mysterious in its own way. Even the simplest combination, Earth Lord Mingwang Strike, could never have been invented without a deep understanding of the Supreme Ultimate Fluid Sword.

[The techniques called the Eight Great Possibilities have already become independent divine ultimate arts, detached from the original forms I created. In truth, I had hoped my descendants in the Wudang Sect would develop them...]

Jang Sambong sighed and continued.

[...Thus, I cannot confidently claim I can teach you the Eight Great Possibilities and lead you to the pinnacle realm.]

"That's fine. I'm grateful just to learn them."

[Hmm...]

"Please teach me."

To properly cultivate the Eight Great Possibilities in my current state, I needed a master's guidance. The problem was that only the White Lotus Cult Leader, Yi Cheong-un, or the artificially advanced Jin So-cheong could properly instruct me—and contacting any of them now was problematic. So, come hell or high water, I had to receive Jang Sambong the Immortal's teachings.

I spent the dawn hours receiving instruction on the Eight Great Possibilities from Jang Sambong the Immortal.

'As expected, he knows them inside out.'

Though he claimed verbally it would be difficult to teach, in practice, he explained everything to me with effortless clarity. And to convey knowledge so easily to another, the teacher themselves must fully comprehend it. Jang Sambong had mastered the Eight Great Possibilities and penetrated even their advanced realms.

Mastering all Eight Great Possibilities overnight.

This was the Supreme Immortal Jang Sambong!

As the morning sun rose, Jang Sambong spoke while gazing at it.

[But calling them the Eight Great Possibilities feels off in tone. For such splendid arts...]

"Shall we give them another name?"

[That would be best.]

"You have every right to name them, Immortal."

Who else but the creator and practitioner? When I readily asked Jang Sambong to name them, he pondered deeply before saying,

[What of Eight Immortals Divine Arts?]

His words brought a gleam to my eyes as I looked at him.

"Were you thinking of the Eight Immortals of the Dao?"

[Indeed.]

Jang Sambong continued, seeming a bit dry.

[From my youth, I admired them and devoted myself to Taoism. Thus, I wish to honor them with their title.]

Come to think of it, Jang Sambong lived far later than Yeo Dong-bin. Though from centuries ago, not as far back as the Tang Dynasty. In that sense, Jang Sambong was like a junior to Yeo Dong-bin among the transcendents—though they didn't seem to stand on strict seniority.

"Understood."

From now on, as Jang Sambong decreed, we would call the Eight Great Possibilities the Eight Immortals Divine Arts.

As I resolved this inwardly, Jang Sambong said.

[But can you not focus on martial cultivation?]

"Ah... well..."

[Your mind wanders elsewhere.]

A transcendent immortal's senses couldn't be fooled. I scratched my head and admitted.

"In truth, a deadline to meet someone approaches. It's weighing on me."

[Hmm... In any case, great achievements don't come overnight. Handle your business first, then cultivate—I wish you well.]

"Yes."

For the rest of the time, I meditated to hone my mind and stamina to their peak, then left Jiangyang Valley at dawn on the appointed day. Before a major event, refining one's condition trumped cultivation.

Paat!

I didn't use my teleportation art but the Apostle's power to arrive at the Han Clan manor. Teleportation was more comfortable, but growing accustomed to the Apostle's power would make future travels easier.

Upon reaching the Han Clan garden, Han Baekryeong waited on a wooden bridge. I'd left early myself, yet she was already fully attired, proving she remembered our promise clearly.

Seeing me, Han Baekryeong said.

"You're supposedly the Dragon Incarnate?"

"That's right."

"Absurd. You mean you turned from boy to youth overnight?"

Han Baekryeong eyed me with deep suspicion. Naturally, changing appearance overnight wouldn't convince anyone. Even Mangyang had struggled to believe it—let alone an outsider like her.

"Believe it or not, I'm here to keep my promise to you. To give the answer you requested regarding the White Lotus Cult Leader's assassination and our cooperation."

Knowing the full circumstances, Han Baekryeong flinched and said.

"Ridiculous... Aren't you too brazen for an imposter?"

"I am who I am."

Sweek...

I drew Hwayo and unleashed its power. Intense flames surged forth, rippling everywhere, and Han Baekryeong frowned at the illusory blaze that wasn't truly there. Having displayed Hwayo's might, I said curtly.

"Believe me or not—it's your choice. If not, I'll be going."

"Wait."

Han Baekryeong raised a hand to stop me. She pondered, then said.

"Even if you're an imposter, I believe speaking with you differs little from the Dragon Incarnate."

She seemed to judge that, true or false, it amounted to the same—contacting my faction. A thoroughly pragmatic decision.

"Do as you will."

"How did you end up like this?"

I replied calmly.

"I tangle often with divine beings. This form is from aging rapidly in a short time."

"...You expect me to believe that?"

"No choice if you don't. If my words are true and you were me, how would you explain this to others?"

"Can't be helped, then."

Han Baekryeong eyed me skeptically, then said.

"In any case, give me your answer from before."

Han Baekryeong had commissioned me to kill the White Lotus Cult Leader, promising all needed weaknesses and information without reserve. Having already discussed my response with my strategists, I answered without hesitation.

"I have conditions."

"What conditions?"

"Persuade the Wind God Style to ally with us."

"......"

"And make the Confucian scholars our allies too."

Unleashing Je Gal-sa's scheme, Han Baekryeong looked troubled, just as he predicted. My proposal must have been highly inconvenient for her. She responded.

"I don't see the need to involve them in this..."

"No. If we exclude the Wind God Style and they later side with the Cult Leader, what then? And without solidifying ties with the Confucian scholars, our influence in Luoyang will wane sharply."

"That has little to do with toppling the Cult Leader. It's trivial."

"Hmm."

She was right. My counters sounded like excuses. Unfazed, I continued steadily.

"But I have no intention of partnering with someone incapable of even trivial tasks."

"......!!"

"What you call trivial is, to me, non-essential like eliminating the White Lotus Cult Leader. Compared to my gains, it's an excessively risky bridge to cross. So I'm asking for basic procedures to justify it—surely not too hard?"

"You want proof of ability."

"Interpret as you like."

Han Baekryeong pondered briefly, then nodded.

"I'll try."

"Good."

Once her task succeeded, I'd hear via Ui-seong's Sanggwan Hyeok. I said to Han Baekryeong.

"How's the Sword Demon's progress with Twin Swordsmanship?"

"He's only recently begun training."

"Ah... I see..."

"But he's already mastered the basics."

Seeing my surprise, she added.

"He's a master who was near the pinnacle in his field to begin with—it's as expected."

I went to the Sword Demon's training ground and met him. He was meditating at dawn; upon my arrival, he eyed me suspiciously and said.

"Who are you?"

"Baek Woong."

The Sword Demon's expression soured further.

"Baek Woong is a boy."

"I've aged."

"Kahaha!!"

The Sword Demon scoffed incredulously and turned away sharply—as if it wasn't worth discussing. I felt a pang inwardly, but even I'd dismiss someone claiming to age over twenty years in an instant as mad. Their reactions were utterly natural.

With no choice, I approached the Sword Demon and offered the black yao stone.

"This proves I'm me."

"Incredible. What's to say this isn't a trap to brainwash or beguile me?"

He was highly wary. Then Han Baekryeong, watching from behind, spoke up.

"Sword Demon! This is no time to waste. Will you drive away a guest or talk?"

"Han Baekryeong."

"Don't bicker—choose."

She seemed averse to an outsider lingering in her sect's vital area, regardless of my authenticity. Urged by her, the Sword Demon thought long, then reluctantly nodded.

"Fine, I'll take it."

Paat

"Huh!"

Reading the past events, the Sword Demon looked stunned. He lowered his guard slightly and sent me a transmission.

[Sorry for doubting you.]

[It's natural.]

Outwardly, for Han Baekryeong's benefit, we began a show conversation.

"I've heard your recent progress is remarkable."

"I'm barely taking my first steps."

While pretending to chat, our real talk was via transmission.

The Sword Demon said.

[A lot must have happened. I should leave this training ground soon too. The world will change drastically before long.]

[When would suit you?]

[Originally two years, but I'll hasten it. If Han Baekryeong acknowledges me as instructor, I can teach you Twin Swordsmanship.]

[I'll be waiting.]

If I'd spent the Sword Demon's Twin Swordsmanship time delving into the Seven Great Ultimate Arts, I'd have achieved far more. But since I'd need Twin Swordsmanship eventually, he was wasting his time for my sake. Knowing it created a debt, I vowed to repay him handsomely later.

[Advice: seek the Seer.]

[The Seer?]

[Your strategists must be too busy to think of it, but the Seer knows the Yi Clan's intel and movements best. Prepare an offering and get the information from him.]

[Ah!]

[To prepare for great chaos, Yi Clan intel on the Yi Clan may be most vital. Good luck.]

I left the Han Clan and headed to Jinrang Valley.

'Worried about Mangyang fighting the Divine Flame.'

I went to Mangyang's territory. Peering at him lying atop a boulder, he didn't stir even at my arrival—like he was unconscious. No heat from his body, face pallid as death. Clearly out cold.

"Mangyang!"

Panicking, I grabbed his wrist—and instantly felt scorching energy invade through it. The tremendous spiritual energy thrashed as if to snap my life force in an instant, but then Jang Sambong raised his divine ki to shield me from it.

Jang Sambong said.

[Mortal. This one's body swirls with immense divine ki. Left as is, he'll die.]

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