Reincarnated Swordmaster

Paht!

The place Choe Chi-won had directed me to was the Seven Stars Altar on Tamra Island. Strangely enough, seven flames floated around the altar in a fixed orbit. I had located it from the edge of Tamra Island, a place I'd passed through before, and arrived in just half a shichen. Choe Chi-won's words resurfaced in my mind.

[The island to the south of the peninsula, Tamra, was once the independent kingdom of Tamra. Its king was called the Star Lord, and the first king of ancient Tamra is said to have been born under the Seven Stars constellation, granting him the power to wield its force.]

Step.

I took a step toward the altar.

[The Star Lords of Tamra were born with strong spiritual power generation after generation, performing rituals to accumulate their strength in the Seven Stars Altar. The amassed spiritual power of the altar would open the path to the legendary Three Divine Mountains, reveal the surrounding sea routes, and stabilize fishing to bring prosperity. When Xu Fu received the order from Qin Shi Huang to find the secret of immortality, he took note of this legend of the Tamra Star Lord.]

[So the Seven Stars Altar operated by the Tamra Star Lord opened the path to the Three Divine Mountains.]

[Indeed. Naturally, Xu Fu had no choice but to come to this southern island on the peninsula to reach Mount Penglai. He offered two thousand boys and girls from the east along with treasures to the Tamra Star Lord in negotiation to activate the Seven Stars Altar, and finally reached one of the Three Divine Mountains, Mount Penglai. But what he found upon arrival there was nothing short of hell...]

Choe Chi-won let out a sigh as if it were slipping away.

[Hmmm...]

(I'll tell you the location and method of activation for the Seven Stars Altar. But activating it requires extremely strong spiritual power, so make thorough preparations.)

(Can't we ask the Tamra Star Lord?)

At my question, Choe Chi-won gave a wry smile.

[Tamra was subjugated by Goryeo after my death and became a tributary state for hundreds of years thereafter. In that time, the Star Lord lost his power, and his bloodline vanished. At present, there's no way to know where a legitimate Tamra Star Lord might be, so you'll have no choice but to force open the Seven Stars Altar with raw power.]

And so I had come with ample power.

Ending my recollection, I spoke to Cheon Woo-jin beside me.

"Cheon Woo-jin. What do you think?"

Cheon Woo-jin stared entranced at the wedge patterns and bizarre script spread all around. He seemed to be calculating something in his head.

"...Incredible. This is a relic imbued with the power of the stars. It's stabilized with an extremely precise ritual system. When was this made?"

"By the first Star Lord, I assume."

"No. This isn't a relic made by humans. Perhaps the first Star Lord of Tamra..."

Muttering that, Cheon Woo-jin stroked the walls around the altar and continued.

"I think we can open the passage."

"Good."

Wuuuuu.

Cheon Woo-jin drew up his power, raising spiritual energy across the entire altar. After murmuring incantations for a long while, he thrust his hand forward and shouted.

"Haste! Yield to the command!"

Paht!

I felt myself being sucked into light, and suddenly I was standing in a different place.

'Geumo Island?'

It felt similar to when I'd first arrived at Geumo Island. I stood at the edge of an incredibly high cliff, with a sea of clouds below and bizarre rocks everywhere. But soon, the powerful demonic energy assaulting me from all sides made me flinch.

"Hmm... Shall I head down?"

Just in case, I used a spell to turn invisible and slowly descended the sheer ten-thousand-ren cliff face. After dropping about forty jang straight down, the ground gradually came into view. The world below the clouds was shrouded in pitch-black energy. Upon reaching the ground, the floor was like a sticky swamp, and toxic abysses emitting a horrific stench flowed here and there.

Kuuuuuuu.

I spotted a grotesquely shaped beast with five arms and two tails prowling about, its glistening skin rippling. Similar beasts' backs appeared and vanished on the swamp surface in various spots. They were enormous, perhaps a whole jang in size—massive demonic creatures—so I immediately knew this was a danger zone.

'...Let's get out of here first.'

Killing those monsters wouldn't be hard, but there was no reason to waste time. I adapted the Annihilation Steps to escape the swamp. Then, searching for any immortals or intelligent beings, I wandered aimlessly across Penglai Island.

In the process, I spotted a massive Daoist building in ancient style from afar and headed toward it. From a distance, it had a majestic exterior, but the closer I got, the more I noticed bizarre mucus dried on various parts of the structure, with an ominous, sinister aura lingering.

When I entered the building, I gape! at the unimaginable horror before me.

"...!!"

Beings that appeared to be immortals were bound to pillars here and there, moaning or silent. Some had wriggling eggs embedded in their skin and bodies, with bug-like things crawling about. Nearby, clusters of large eggs sat, from which tiny fishfolk seemed to have hatched and were crawling around.

'The Sea God's kin... Hatchlings.'

This must be a hatchery. Spotting a female immortal with a swollen belly, I frowned. She had undoubtedly suffered prolonged torment and abuse at the hands of the Sea God's kin. She must have originally been extremely beautiful, but after years of abuse, she had gone mad, her empty eyes emitting only "Ah, ah" sounds. Imagining what had happened was all too easy.

It seemed the Sea God had invaded Penglai Island and turned this place into a hatchery and slave torture chamber. I realized these immortals, being undying, had endured centuries of agony without release.

Even I would probably go insane after centuries like that. Biting my lip, I swung my sword to cleave the nearby fishfolk hatchlings.

Shuiiiwk!

Kiik! Kiik!

About a dozen hatchlings died in an instant. Then I stomped and shattered every egg cluster, leaving none intact. With the hatchlings dealt with, I cut away the sticky mucus and ropes binding the immortals, freeing them.

"......"

"Hey. Can you hear me?"

"......"

But the freed immortals all stared with vacant eyes, offering no response. Regardless of age or gender, they had all lost their minds. I gathered the about twenty I'd saved and tried conversing, but with no reaction, I sighed and turned away.

Then a faint voice came.

"Be... Behind... Azure Spirit Hall... Island Lord..."

An elderly-looking immortal muttered it amid his madness. Hearing that, I recalled there was indeed another building behind this one. I questioned him further, but it seemed instinctual—he couldn't manage any rational conversation.

Kwang!

Soon, I kicked open the door to the rear building called Azure Spirit Hall and entered. I noticed something at the deepest part of the dark Daoist hall.

As I walked inward, I saw many fishfolk corpses reduced to white bones. They seemed long dead. Recent ones were plentiful too, making it feel like walking a corridor of corpses. After a short walk, thousands of talismans floated in the dark interior.

Pajjjik.

Pajjjjjik!

As I approached, tremendous thunder energy erupted, attacks bursting from each talisman. I swiftly dodged the lightning strikes, realizing ordinary skill couldn't evade or block them. But dodging once or twice wasn't the end—the lightning soon doubled in power and kept coming.

Kwa-gwang!

Kwang!

'An automatic defense barrier?'

From the piled fishfolk corpses outside, it seemed not just this area but a barrier that spewed lightning until intruders were utterly annihilated. Given that the fishfolk hadn't breached it in centuries, the ritualist behind it must have been extraordinarily skilled.

Still, retreating now wasn't an option.

I aimed toward the barrier's interior, channeling deep internal energy into a lion's roar.

[I am Baek Woong, apostle of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Zhuanxu! I've come to rescue Penglai Island's survivors—do not attack me.]

Kworung!

But in response, a wall of lightning rivaling advanced sorcery hurtled toward me. I barely evaded with Annihilation Steps. The pure demonic user line's agitations tripled in size and speed. Realizing the attacks were intensifying, a chill ran down my spine.

'At this rate, I'll die here.'

The barrier's lightning still seemed capable of growing stronger. No wonder the fishfolk couldn't break it for centuries. I groaned, torn between risking a breakthrough or retreating.

That was when it happened.

[Zhuanxu's apostle? Is that true?]

A deep spiritual voice resonated. Realizing the barrier's master had replied, I joyfully answered.

[Yes.]

[I am Penglai Island's Island Lord, Yi Heung-pae. Has the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' apostle finally come to save us?]

Disbelief and shock laced his words. The name Yi Heung-pae rang a bell, so I pondered and found the answer in Grandmaster Mangyang's memories, exclaiming in astonishment.

[Yi Heung-pae? You're one of the Four Sages of Geuryong Island?]

[That was during the Investiture War. Later I became Disciple of the Lotus Lantern Daoist and was assigned as Penglai Island Lord.]

Yi Heung-pae, one of the Four Sages of Geuryong Island!

He was an immortal who had made a name for himself in the massive Investiture War when gods and demons ran rampant. As a supreme sect immortal who racked up feats amid that chaos, his current power must be truly terrifying. Penglai Island Lord Yi Heung-pae was undoubtedly a being on par with Most Perfected Beings.

I asked him.

[Do you know the outside situation? I've come to rescue Penglai Island now that the Sea God is dead and a gap has opened.]

[The Sea God... dead? The former ruler?]

[How else could I barge in so boldly?]

Penglai Island Lord Yi Heung-pae seemed incredulous. Then he said.

[Apostle. Come here. I'll deactivate the barrier briefly.]

Wuuung.

The air trembled, and the thunder energy around the floating talismans faded. I eyed the talismans warily as I walked deeper into Azure Spirit Hall. Seeing the brightly lit interior, I gasped in shock.

He's practically a skeleton!

Penglai Island Lord Yi Heung-pae's current form was so gaunt it was like bones draped in skin—shocking for an immortal closer to a spirit body than flesh. He was nearly a manifestation of divine fire.

As I stared in shock, he spoke.

[I resisted the Sea God, unleashing all my power to erect this barrier. But even as one of Geuryong Island's Four Sages, maintaining a barrier against the Sea God required accepting dissolution... I'm already a lost cause.]

He used honorifics toward me. Acknowledging me as apostle, showing respect.

[Does that mean you can't leave?]

[Yes. I've given everything to this barrier. Deactivating it would shatter me into oblivion.]

"Hmm..."

[Apostle. Tell me what has happened outside.]

I recounted the circumstances of subjugating the Sea God. Yi Heung-pae pondered, then said.

[I have a request. Even if I perish, rescue the remaining Penglai immortals and take them to the Heavenly Realm.]

[They've all gone mad from prolonged abuse and torture.]

[The Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady can heal and save them... I beg you.]

"......"

I looked at him with a heavy heart. A hero of the Investiture War, meant to wield a Perfected Being's powers as the enigmatic Penglai Island Lord, now awaited dissolution in this wretched state. It spoke volumes of the Sea God's past cruelty.

"I have a question. The Three Divine Mountains include not just Penglai but also Yingzhou and Fangzhang Mountains. Surely they weren't..."

[I don't know. The Sea God and his kin invaded without warning. I know nothing of the outside.]

"I see."

[Apostle. You didn't come just to save us. What is it you want?]

I answered Penglai Island Lord Yi Heung-pae's question.

"I wish to go to the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate to pay audience with my sovereign."

[You somehow know the entrance to the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate is on Penglai Island...]

"Can you tell me where it is?"

[Very well. The location is...]

Yi Heung-pae detailed the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate's location. Then he extended his hands and said.

[Take this Semblance Yellow Pearl I possess.]

"A treasure?"

[I'm doomed to dissolution anyway... I clung on out of spite, not wanting the Sea God to take it. Take it with you.]

"Understood."

I received the Semblance Yellow Pearl from Penglai Island Lord Yi Heung-pae.

Pssssssst.

In that instant, his skeletal body crumbled like sand, and the thousands of talismans filling the air lost power and fell. He had sustained the barrier using the treasure's power alongside his Perfected Being strength.

"Farewell."

I looked bitterly at Yi Heung-pae's remains. At a glance, this Semblance Yellow Pearl was a mighty treasure that had shone in the Investiture War, forging the Four Sages' fame. Even with it all, he could do was protect himself from the Sea God!

'Anyway, I got the treasure. Let's use it well.'

I stored the immortals in my neck pouch and exited. Passing through vast Penglai Island, I saw fishfolk withering and dying everywhere. They struggled even without me fighting, just from my presence.

'I see...'

Spotting me, fishfolk grabbed tridents or polearms to pursue, but exhaustion made them give up. Considering their kin's superior physical powers over humans, they were definitely weakened now.

'Like fish flopping and dying out of water.'

But that made sense. Penglai Island was originally an otherworld for immortals, forcibly altered by the Sea God's magic to suit his fishfolk kin. Now, with the Sea God dying and his magic fading, the island's inmate immortal energy surged, assaulting the fishfolk. They'd likely perish on their own without my intervention.

Tadat.

Soon I reached the northernmost part of Penglai Island. Unlike elsewhere, no fishfolk presence, demonic energy, or mucus lingering. Instead, a five-jang-wide massive gate loomed, shrouded in powerful ghostly energy.

This was the entrance to the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate of the Myriad Ghosts Hall!

Passing through would lead to the Day and Month Lands under Yeol's management. Tense, I slowly pushed open the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate.

Kugugung...

Though a massive heavenly gate, it opened lightly as if pushing air. When fully open, a familiar figure on the other side stared back.

[Unexpected. Why have you come here?]

"Yeol."

Zhuanxu's great-grandson of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, high official of the Myriad Ghosts Hall bearing his command, and gatekeeper of the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate—Yeol regarded me with his pitch-black face of darkness. Humanoid in form but lacking flesh or bones, composed solely of shadow, he was wrapped in ghostly aura.

[I told you during the five years I taught you our arts. I delegate the apostle's powers to you, but never tarnish or violate the Myriad Ghosts Hall's dignity... Yet you come all the way to Penglai Mountain to open the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate's entrance—what is the meaning of this? If you weren't the apostle but a mere mortal, I'd have obliterated you here without question.]

"Before that, I have a question. Why did Lord Zhuanxu leave those Sea God bastards alone? The ones loitering right at your doorstep..."

[The fate of Heavenly Realm immortals is no concern of ours in the Myriad Ghosts Hall. The Sea God feared our sovereign and dared not encroach here. We mutually ignored each other.]

"I see."

[Apostle Baek Woong. Do you truly intend to cross that gate into the Myriad Ghosts Hall?]

Yeol seemed to glare at me. He clearly harbored hostility.

Gooooh.

I flinched. I'd been obvious during training at the Nine Nether Heavenly Gate, but facing him in my present body, I felt it bone-chillingly. Yeol was a powerhouse from the mythic age, kin to gods, wielding immense power.

Steeling myself, I said.

"I must pay audience with Lord Zhuanxu. I have something urgent to ask."

[Then speak to me. I'll relay it to the sovereign.]

"Why block a direct audience? It feels like you're barring me."

[Even as apostle, you can't treat the Myriad Ghosts Hall like your home, coming and going freely. State your business and leave.]

Something was off.

Yeol seemed to have a reason for blocking my entry to the Myriad Ghosts Hall.

'Damn... But I can't press him...'

Regardless, Yeol was on par with or above Paengjo or Changhi. A mid-tier divinity, perhaps. He might even surpass Danggi or the Demon King. Winning a direct confrontation was impossible now.

With no choice, I told Yeol.

"During the recent Rite of Investiture, something bizarre happened..."

I described my unexpected death. Yeol nodded and said.

[Wait a moment.]

Paht!

Yeol vanished in an instant, reappearing before me shortly after. He said.

[The sovereign says the additional release of the Seven Essentials is forbidden by Nüwa's command. The recent mishap was Nüwa's wrath, bringing calamity upon those performing the Rite of Investiture to release the Seven Essentials.]

"W-What? Is that true?"

Nüwa here?

It fit, given her staunch opposition to releasing the Seven Essentials. As I pondered, Yeol continued.

[Henceforth, mortals' Rites of Investiture are prohibited. Please keep that in mind.]

"...I can't accept that."

[What can't you?]

"You know full well the mortal world is in chaos, right? As your apostle, I need greater power and authority to uphold Zhuanxu's dignity! I don't understand why you're forbidding me from releasing the Seven Essentials."

Protesting, Yeol calmly replied.

[The sovereign has answered that as well.]

"What did he say?"

[Do as assigned. The given power suffices for the task, and releasing the Seven Essentials oversteps. It's already forbidden by consensus among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.]

"......"

The assigned task.

That was undoubtedly tracking Changhi's whereabouts.

I'd traced the Eight Divisions, incarnations of Changhi's 8th phase, but uncovering their true nature required more than my current power! Knowing this well, I shouted.

"It's not enough! I can't find the Eight Divisions like this. I'm telling you the truth."

[Whining.]

"Call it whining if you want. But I won't leave until you grant me more power."

[......]

Yeol vanished wordlessly, then reappeared. He said.

[It's done now. Leave.]

"What's done?"

For the first time, Yeol spoke in utter irritation.

[You whined so much the sovereign granted great power to one of your comrades. Don't come again until the mission's complete.]

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