Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Nüwa's declaration of opposition left the rest of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors visibly troubled. Zhuanxu, in particular, made no effort to hide his displeasure as he spoke.

[How utterly selfish.]

Nüwa gazed at him with regal poise.

[The Seven Luminaries must not be unbound. I've said as much since the Primordial Era.]

[We Five Emperors respect you as the foremost of the Three Sovereigns and a being of special standing. Did we not honor your recent request?]

[...]

[Moreover, whenever our views have clashed with those of the Three Sovereigns, we have always yielded.]

A request she made?

[But this time is different. If the baleful star creates apostles in the Central Plains and begins extending its influence, we'll be forced into war again—without the Yellow Emperor or Fuxi to lead us. It won't just be the baleful star; riffraff will swarm from every corner without end. Did we not divide heaven and earth and forge the Seven Luminaries precisely to escape that endless, soul-crushing warfare and await the oracle?]

[So what do you propose?]

[Our will is plain to see. Make the wise choice.]

Only then did I grasp the dynamic between Zhuanxu and Nüwa. Nominally, Nüwa outranked him as a creation goddess deserving of respect, but in truth, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors stood as equals. At their exalted level, comparing power was meaningless.

It was then that one of the Three Sovereigns beside Nüwa finally spoke.

[What a petty summit... I'm leaving.]

Zhuanxu sneered in response.

[Aren't you confined anyway? Your opinion hardly matters now.]

[...]

[Go if you must, Flame Emperor.]

Whoosh!

The Flame Emperor's apparition vanished. The one who had spoken was Shennong, one of the Three Sovereigns. The rumors appeared true—he was sealed somewhere, unable to wield his full might.

Nüwa spoke.

[Annihilating humanity now would mean restarting everything from scratch after millennia of work. But there's no guarantee the others will back down quietly once they hear the oracle.]

[That's precisely what we want. We're hardly lacking in power. It's this mask we despise.]

[The mask has its advantages too.]

[Our diversion ends here.]

[You're saying your patience has reached its limit.]

Rebuking him, Nüwa pressed on.

[My stance remains unchanged. The Seven Luminaries must stay bound, and humanity's end is not at hand. Our duty is to honor the appointed time.]

[So stubborn...]

An ominous tension filled the air. Zhuanxu and the other four Emperors seemed to be growing cold and hostile toward Nüwa. Even she might not prevail against the combined might of the four divine sovereigns—no one in all heaven and earth could say for certain.

It was at that moment.

One of the Emperors, Lesser Vast Golden Heaven, stepped forward.

[Fighting among ourselves is pointless. Why not consult the Yellow Emperor's will?]

[The Yellow Emperor...]

[He is our origin, after all. This matter is his to judge.]

A heavy awkwardness settled in. Zhuanxu replied to Lesser Vast Golden Heaven.

[You know full well he's secluded in the Pantheon, showing himself to no one. Why bring it up?]

[Conveniently, Canglei's incarnation is here. If he summons Canglei, we gain passage to the Pantheon.]

[Hmm...]

[Was entering the Pantheon not our long-cherished dream?]

The eyes of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors turned to Gin Nara, who lay in a wretched state.

[Live.]

Nüwa extended a slender finger, healing Gin Nara's curse in an instant. He reverted to his original form. Her divine authority seemed equal to—if not surpassing—Zhuanxu's. As Gin Nara gasped for breath, Nüwa commanded him.

[Summon Canglei. We must hear from him.]

[Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors—you presume to dictate the fate of the world on your own whims? I cannot involve my master in your farce!]

An enemy, yet his willpower was staggering. Tortured to that extent, and still his resolve held firm? As the Aura of the Eight Legions cried out defiantly, Nüwa continued.

[Asura of the Eight Legions, persist in your stubbornness, and you'll lose even the chance to speak in that farce.]

[...]

Gin Nara seemed to sense something in her words and fell silent. He recognized it as an ultimatum. His lips trembled slightly before he murmured quietly.

[You are the great evil that will be cursed...]

Shoooo...

In that instant, ink-black darkness erupted from the fog-shrouded earth, devouring the sun in the sky. The sun warped into a sphere of chaos, swirling larger as moonlight seeped from within.

Something descended along the path of moonlight. Zhuanxu scowled upon seeing it.

[Arrogant wretch! Not even your true form in this situation? Canglei.]

The being called Canglei resembled a tiny serpent of boiling chaotic flame. Per Zhuanxu, even this was no true body—just an incarnation or apostle. The serpent flicked its tongue, speaking as if embodying Canglei's will.

[How astonishing that the great Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors seek me out.]

The tone dripped with sarcasm. By ancient mythic hierarchy, Canglei ranked below them, yet he showed no deference.

[Open the gate to the Yellow Emperor's Pantheon.]

Zhuanxu demanded, but the serpent ignored him, saying only what it wished.

[I care not what you do. But cease tormenting my incarnation. You know who shields me.]

Swoosh!

[You bastard!]

Zhuanxu hurled a spear of darkness in fury, but the dark serpent and its incarnation, Gin Nara, had already vanished. It seemed Canglei had come not out of fear of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' warning, but to rescue his apostle. With Gin Nara's spirit gone, Zhuge Yulong's body lay sprawled in its place.

[Ugh, that scum...]

Like a dog chasing a chicken only to come up empty, Zhuanxu seethed with rage, on the verge of unleashing his full power.

Then Yao Shun intervened, as if to restrain him.

[All is decided now. Handle the rest well.]

[I ask the same of you.]

Shush...

The apparitions of the Emperors, save Zhuanxu, began fading one by one. In the end, only Nüwa and Zhuanxu remained. Nüwa gazed at him in shadowy form, steadfast in her opposition to his will.

Gazing at her, Zhuanxu said.

[Yao Shun called it corruption, but you seem the one tainted by humanity.]

[...]

[If you won't help, be gone.]

Nüwa's form grew faint. She lingered as if overlooking the mortal world from atop the sacred mountain, then spoke.

[I still believe we're all mere playthings of the Yellow Emperor. That's why I protect humanity—to uncover his true intent.]

[So you claim it's no mere sentiment.]

[Zhuanxu, you're too hasty.]

[That conspiracy theory again. I've heard it hundreds of times.]

Nüwa's voice diminished.

[No one knows the Yellow Emperor Gongsun's will. No one...]

[...]

[Since you proposed it, the consequences are yours alone, Zhuanxu.]

Flash!

With Nüwa's darkness gone, Zhuanxu raised Aqueos Yao and Fiery Yao.

Hummm hummm

[A fated task descends upon me.]

The blades resonated, emitting intangible waves. I realized Zhuanxu's immense divinity drew out the Seven Luminaries' power to its utmost, far surpassing what mortals or even great immortals could achieve.

Aaaaaah

A colossal resonance set the earth boiling. He hadn't even unleashed his power in earnest, yet heaven and earth sensed impending doom.

The aura around Fiery Yao already exceeded tenfold what I could muster. The same held for Aqueos Yao. Their combined resonance would yield unimaginable destruction. Why?

Because the power kept amplifying ceaselessly!

I discerned Zhuanxu's intent with this overwhelming force and cried out from within.

[Stop!!]

[Stop! You know what I'm about to do?]

I pleaded desperately.

[Please! I'll do anything you command, Lord Zhuanxu! Just spare the human world!]

[...]

If Aqueos Yao and Fiery Yao resonated now, the human world would truly perish! The Seven Luminaries brimmed with that much certainty. An Emperor already at [Ancient Ruler] tier wielding their resonance spelled catastrophe.

[I'll atone eternally for trying to destroy the Heavenly Emperor Altar. Devour me whole if you must. Please...]

It would doom nine in ten humans—not just my comrades on the mountain. Cities would fall to earthquakes and disasters. Humanity would cower in caves, no better than beasts. Foreseeing that horror, I begged Zhuanxu to halt.

Zhuanxu seemed amused.

[Do you truly think I'm annihilating the human world over that one act?]

[...]

[...What?]

[This is an opportunity. To shed this mask and reclaim my freedom... Something I've longed for but never achieved. Sooner or later, I would have dominated you to fulfill my will! Your action was merely the trigger—don't blame yourself, Baek Woong.]

Damn it!

My insides burned. His calm, soothing tone revealed unshakeable resolve. He harbored no real grudge or anger toward me, confirming he saw me as little more than a pet.

[Compromise?]

With things this dire, should I negotiate to at least save my comrades? But what meaning is surviving a world stripped of humanity? As I hesitated, Zhuanxu murmured lowly.

[Your comrades have come to rescue you.]

My heart sank.

Zhuge division, Miho, Sword Demon, Maeng-ryang, Jin So-cheong, Cheon Woo-jin, Musashi...

As he said, they approached from afar. Fortunately, they seemed unscathed by Gin Nara's sorcery. But tension etched their faces—they had likely sensed the descent of Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Zhuanxu upon me.

[Run if you've figured it out! We can't win!]

I screamed inwardly.

The might of a Three Sovereigns and Five Emperor was utterly beyond us now! Even without his true body, merely channeling power through his apostle like me, he toyed with Gin Nara like an insect. Our current strength couldn't hope to oppose him. It would be a massacre.

Zhuanxu chuckled as if delighted.

[Human affection and camaraderie... How quaint. Such peculiar mortals.]

[Lord Zhuanxu, please...]

[Hahahahaha!]

Zhuanxu burst into maniacal laughter.

[Yes... Destroying everything outright would be dull. A bit of entertainment is in order.]

It was then.

Miho knelt before Zhuanxu and spoke.

"Lord Zhuanxu! I have a plea."

[A fox of the heavenly realm? Speak your plea.]

"We offer our lives in exchange—spare Baek Woong."

[...]

Zhuanxu's expression betrayed genuine surprise. Not just Miho—all save Musashi knelt. Yet no one saw it as humiliation. How could they, facing a true Three Sovereigns and Five Emperor?

Zhuanxu slowly surveyed the group, his gaze settling on Musashi.

[...And what are you?]

"Kill... the god. That is the duty of the Full Moon Heavenly Slash."

Musashi assumed his stance. Iron resolve burned in his eyes.

"God. Receive this single stroke forged to slay gods!!"

Two Heavens Style

God Slaying Slash

Skaaang!!

The azure sword qi—the same that had forced the Sea God to block—pierced space-time, hurtling toward me. It had to be Musashi's ultimate, final technique. Even another absolute realm master might question who could withstand it.

Yet Zhuanxu neither dodged nor blocked. His form simply let the qi pass harmlessly through, unscathed.

"......?!"

Musashi staggered, his composure shattered in a way unbecoming an absolute realm expert. He hadn't anticipated even aura grazing the target. As he reeled in shock, Zhuanxu muttered irritably.

[Pathetic. To think this seat must indulge such trifles...]

"H-How? I cleaved the facet of time itself..."

[How's this? They call it Bug Smasher.]

Thwack

As Zhuanxu snapped his fingers, Musashi burst into blood shreds and died.

The outcome felt so inevitable, so surreal. Musashi had failed to grasp the vast chasm between mortal and divinity.

I squeezed my eyes shut inwardly.

[Damn... After getting wrecked by the Sea God like that, and still not realizing... Idiot...]

But perhaps only I could think that, having felt divine power countless times through Zhuanxu's authority and my reincarnation ability. To Musashi, the Sea God was just a stronger yokai; lacking true exposure to godhood, he'd become a frog in a well. Even Dongyoung's greatest master reduced to an insect before a god—that reality was bleak.

Zhuanxu scanned the kneeling group and declared.

[Very well. You know your place, and you're cherished by my apostle, so I'll exceptionally welcome you into the Hall of Myriad Ghosts. Revel in immortality.]

A strange glint flashed in Zhuge division's eyes.

[You have no intention of revoking the human world's destruction?]

[Sorcerer, unless the Yellow Emperor speaks directly, it shall not be.]

"I see, Your Majesty. Then will you shield us from death?"

[Watch.]

Hummm

The Seven Luminaries in Zhuanxu's hand gleamed briefly.

[I, Zhuanxu, shall raze the Central Plains.]

Resonance erupted from the twin blades. Then, etched into my eyes: the western horizon ablaze. Sharing senses with Zhuanxu and the divine, I knew that single strike had obliterated the entire Sichuan region.

Rumble rumble rumble

The earth boiled, volcanoes erupted. Ley lines and dragon veins screamed, overturning human cities. Ash and smoke choked the sky as a wretched light of death swept the land.

How many perished in this instant?

At least millions were being ushered to the underworld. Zhuanxu sensed every spirit, beholding the spectacle of souls rising from flesh. He didn't watch the soul-body separation to its end, instead raising Aqueos Yao and proclaiming.

[Your souls are mine.]

Shoooo shooo shooo!

Hundreds, then millions of souls from thousands of li away flew in, absorbed into Aqueos Yao's dark abyss. The spirits of Sichuan's humans and beasts alike became property of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Rays of light converged on me—not as attack, but convergence. Aqueos Yao, engorged with human souls, flashed crimson-black, spewing darkness.

Kikikk

Aqueos Yao seemed to open its eyes. Its ego awakened, linking to some entity far in the northern wastes. Zhuanxu chuckled.

[Still far off. To become the key of apocalypse.]

Boom boom boom

Zhuanxu swung Aqueos Yao once more. This time southward—Henan and Hubei seemed wiped out in one go. Millions more souls streamed in, bolstering his power. With each strike, Zhuanxu wielded his divinity ever more freely.

[A few more, and it'll be done.]

It was then.

Zhuge division stepped forward.

"Indeed, the more the Seven Luminaries are unbound, the nearer the world draws to ruin?"

[Insolent. A mere human dares pry into divine secrets?]

"What do you intend after slaying all humanity?"

[I'll tell you once they're all dead.]

In that moment, our group's mood shifted. As if prearranged, they exchanged glances. Zhuge division smirked and advanced.

"May I ask one more thing?"

[Speak.]

"Joining the Hall of Myriad Ghosts means we all become its ghosts, yes? Losing our lives?"

[Precisely.]

Suddenly, Zhuge division rose.

"Then for me, dying here or there makes no difference. Right?"

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