Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Yeodongbin had faced the Martial God before!

Dozens of times, no less!

I stared at Yeodongbin and asked,

"Is that true?"

[It is, my fated one.]

"Everyone else only met him in a fleeting instant, so why you..."

[...]

Yeodongbin fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"What kind of help?"

[Various kinds...]

"What various kinds?"

[This isn't the place for that.]

Yeodongbin clearly had no desire to elaborate. It was surprising, considering he was always so confident and rarely hid much from a mortal's questions. Did that mean even to Yeodongbin, the Martial God was an incomprehensible existence?

Mangnyang Seonsa spoke up.

[Do you want to know about the Martial God?]

"Yes. If possible, I'd like to make contact with him."

I clenched my fist and declared,

"Human martial prowess can never reach the divine... I know that all too well!"

The White Lotus Cult Leader was utterly crushed by the ruler of the Imperial Palace, and Jang Sambong couldn't even stand against the former ruler. Even Musashi, hailed as the strongest in Dongyoung's history, was mercilessly pulverized by Emperor Jeonuk of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors. I'd seen the evidence with my own eyes, so I felt it viscerally.

[Ho.]

"But with the power of that being called the Martial God..."

[You think it might just work against the divine.]

[That's true, but...]

[No more debate with me. Talk to your fated one.]

[Understood.]

Mangnyang Seonsa turned his back to me and walked slowly toward the end of the path, saying,

[Only dreamers chase mirages...]

Flash.

I opened my eyes to find Mangnyang nearly finished with the ritual preparations. I approached him and said,

"Mangnyang. This time..."

He nodded and replied,

"It's decided. Let's carry out what we discussed before coming here."

"Got it."

Mangnyang could have led the ritual himself, but he deliberately left it to Cheon Woojin. Cheon Woojin chanted the incantation, heavenly principles shifted, and spirits began to descend. Soon, Taeheo Cheonjon appeared in our midst.

[I ate well, humans....]

I replied instantly, as if I'd been waiting.

"But doesn't something feel off? Right?"

I'd had this conversation many times before. I knew exactly what Taeheo Cheonjon would say.

[Hmm?]

"If the Three Emperors and Five Emperors were to release the Seven Calamities and seek humanity's destruction, what would you do?"

[...What?]

The Queen Mother was visibly shocked. For a divine being like her to be so rattled meant my question was completely unexpected. Mangnyang, standing beside me, remained calm, signaling he thought it worth asking.

The Queen Mother regained her composure and said,

[Why entertain such dangerous thoughts? And why ask me?]

"I happened to learn that the Three Emperors and Five Emperors don't necessarily favor humanity. So I'm worried about what to do if those great ones decide to wipe us out. You're in a position to meet them, so surely you can answer this doubt."

[...]

She pondered deeply before replying,

[The Three Emperors and Five Emperors wouldn't make such a foolish choice. There's no reason to recklessly err while leaving external threats unchecked. Nor would they deliberately draw out and release the Seven Calamities.]

"But what if they wea—"

Grab.

As I started to say "wear," Mangnyang suddenly grabbed my sleeve. I turned to see him shaking his head firmly, as if to say no. Only then did I realize I'd nearly made a huge mistake.

I swallowed my words and said to the Queen Mother,

"I spoke out of turn."

his head firmly, as if to say no. Only then did I realize I'd nearly made a huge mistake.

I swallowed my words and said to the Queen Mother,

"I spoke out of turn."

[What were you going to say?]

"I was just curious if humanity will remain safe for generations to come."

She gave a wry smile and answered,

[At the very least, you won't face Avici Hell.]

"Avici Hell?"

In an instant, the Queen Mother's aura shifted. Radiating an ancient, divine glow, she spoke slowly.

[Know this, humans... You are born, born, born, and born again, yet never know where your lives began... You die, die, die, and die, yet never know the end of death. That is the sole blessing and heavenly mandate bestowed upon you.]

Not knowing the beginning or end of life and death is a blessing and a heavenly mandate?

In my ignorant days, I'd have brushed it off as profound nonsense, but not now. Having endured countless lives, deaths, and pains through reincarnation, her words struck deep.

'Isn't that exactly me?'

I couldn't remember the start of my life, nor where my deaths would end. Sure, giving up might reveal that end, but not now. It felt like endlessly rolling a wheel fused from whole lives and deaths.

What does it feel like to wander alone an immortal desert?

Where is the core of this life's emptiness?

'Sorry, Cheon Woojin.'

But I chose differently and said firmly,

"I'll choose nothing. Pass to the next."

Taegong Mang sounded surprised.

[Next? Do you know of a protection better than those great immortals before you? This is already a generous offer...]

"May I summon the great immortal I desire?"

[You should have said so earlier; I'd have allowed it. Who do you want?]

I realized this moment had finally arrived. And I said,

"Summon all Eight Chinese Immortals."

[What...?]

"Yeodongbin is already connected to me through our bond, so I want the remaining seven immortals' protections."

[Hmm... Hold on.]

Whoosh.

Taegong Mang's form vanished briefly, then reappeared, looking troubled.

[You see them as one group, but each is a great immortal. You can't receive blessings from them all at once. I just checked with them, and they'll agree to individual summons.]

"I see."

Disappointed I couldn't get all seven at once, I continued,

all at once. I just checked with them, and they'll agree to individual summons.]

"I see."

Disappointed I couldn't get all seven at once, I continued,

"Then summon Zhongli Quan of the Eight Immortals."

[Very well.]

Flash!

Soon, Zhongli Quan descended before me.

He was a plump, jovial-looking immortal, robust enough to call pot-bellied. His protruding belly showed little of an immortal's aura, but the spiritual energy flowing from him unmistakably marked him as a great immortal.

Zhongli Quan laughed heartily.

[Hahaha! The bold man who flustered the Queen Mother of the West and rejected the advances of countless great immortals calls for me? What an honor.]

He spoke in a mischievous tone, with a lively personality. Calling other immortals' descents "advances" was quite bold. I eyed him cautiously and said,

"Zhongli Quan of the Eight Immortals. Before receiving your protection, I have something to confirm."

[Hahaha... The one who dared question the Queen Mother so boldly—what can't you ask? Go ahead, freely.]

"Does your protection truly enhance martial talent?"

[Ho... That's what you want?]

ahead, freely.]

"Does your protection truly enhance martial talent?"

[Ho... That's what you want?]

"Yes."

Indeed.

My goal this life was to boost my power somehow and reach the Absolute Realm! Even that wouldn't match the divine, but reaching it would multiply my strength several times over if the Seven Calamities were unleashed.

But with my current talent, escaping the Super Peak would take centuries, let alone the Absolute Realm—a legendary height reached by only a tiny few in history. My talent fell short. Thus, using the clue from the prophet during my past life, I sought Zhongli Quan's blessing to improve my martial talent.

Zhongli Quan said, intrigued,

[How did you learn my protection relates to talent?]

"Through my own methods."

He grumbled in a playful voice,

[Hmm... If you don't tell me, I won't give it. I'll just pass to another immortal.]

What?!

This was the first such reaction in all my spirit offerings, leaving me flustered. Zhongli Quan seemed a wildly free-spirited great immortal. Hard to believe he was Yeodongbin's rigid master. With no choice, I said,

"I heard Yeodongbin wasn't originally a martial genius, yet under your guidance, he became a great immortal at the Dual Immortal Realm. So I thought your protection enhances talent."

His tone felt oddly scammy, but I nodded vigorously without hesitation.

"Give it to me!"

[Good. I, Zhongli Quan of the Eight Immortals, bestow my blessing.]

"Wait, just explain what it—"

[I'm busy!]

Flash.

But Zhongli Quan vanished in a burst of light without explaining. The spirit offering ritual was over.

As it ended, Mangnyang and I, exhausted, laid the semi-conscious Cheon Woojin in his quarters.

'I didn't call Zhongli Quan first on purpose, to strengthen Cheon Woojin with divine fever too.'

This time, with Zhongli Quan's addition, it was more taxing, but Cheon Woojin could endure. Mangnyang placed a wet cloth on Cheon Woojin's forehead and said,

"I'll tend to my junior brother until he recovers. Baek Woong, handle the rest."

"Leave it to me. But did my talent really improve?"

Mangnyang smiled faintly.

"If you're unsure, why not train a bit with Geukho before heading out? You'll feel any change in your talent during practice."

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