Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Ten Great Experts.

In my first life, that name referred to the supreme masters at the pinnacle of the Central Plains martial world. Of course, people in this era wouldn't know since they belong to the previous generation, but having lived through fifty years later, I was well aware of their reputations.

Mount Tai Old Man

Beggar Immortal

Divine Monk

Poison King

Bow King

Divine Spear

Fist Saint

Heavenly Demon

Sword King

Among them, the current Three Great Eccentrics would remain among the Ten Great Experts even fifty years from now. And the Divine Spear referred to none other than the Divine Spear Invincible and Central Plains' Greatest Spearman, the great hero Jin So-cheong.

"Hmm... And that guy tied up over there is the one who later becomes the Ten Great Expert known as the Bow King, One Arrow Hundred Kills, Yeon Jong-hwi."

The Sword Demon, listening to my explanation, stroked his beard in admiration. Not only that, but all the gathered companions seemed amazed by my story. Geuk Ho chuckled.

"Hey, Baek Woong. You don't think I'm the Ten Great Expert Strange Hero, do you?"

It seemed possible. But I shook my head.

"I don't know. The Strange Hero wandered so freely that he's only known by his title."

"Man. You must not have much attachment to your first life. The memories from the black obsidian were so faint that I only learned about it now."

"......"

"Those memories were really hazy. You deliberately hid them, didn't you?"

Geuk Ho teased, but I gave a bitter smile.

Who would cherish a life as a second-rate escort warrior, toiling endlessly only to meet a miserable end?

At that moment, Jin So-cheong, who had been listening, spoke up.

"Something's off, Baek Woong."

"What's off?"

"I wouldn't know about the others, but Sword Demon Elder is still in his prime. Even fifty years from now, a master's body doesn't age easily, so he'd surely maintain peak prowess. Yet how is he not among the Ten Great Experts?"

"Oh, now that you mention it..."

I'd never really thought it strange before. But hearing Jin So-cheong, it did seem odd. Even now, the Sword Demon was one of the top supreme masters in the world, so fifty years later, he should naturally be among the Ten Great Experts ruling the world. After a moment's thought, I said,

"The Shadowless Sect still existed fifty years later. But it was such an aloof faction that a lowly escort warrior like me didn't hear much. And yes, it was still the foremost of the Four Great Sects."

"Ha ha! Music to my ears."

The Sword Demon smiled warmly.

"Hm... I think perhaps I sensed some upheaval in the martial world and hid my power... or maybe Hye-ah did. Otherwise, I was probably assassinated by someone before those fifty years passed."

"......"

All sorts of ominous thoughts surfaced.

I'd never thought deeply about it, but what on earth happened during those fifty years in my first life?

Then Miho spoke up with interest.

"Baek Woong. So who was the supreme master among the Ten Great Experts?"

I flinched.

Faced with the sensitive question, I thought for a moment before answering.

"I don't know. Really, I don't."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"Well... Among those ten Ten Great Experts, the Sword King was this guy."

I grabbed Nangong Hwan's head from the ground. The Sky Piercing Sword Dragon Nangong Hwan would go on to become the Sword King and a Ten Great Expert fifty years later, but here he was, beheaded by Geuk Ho. Geuk Ho let out a hollow laugh.

"Ha! What a nobody. Is that the era where trash like him ranks among the Ten Great Experts?"

"That's what I don't know. The current Three Great Eccentrics all become Ten Great Experts outright, so their skills are unquestionable. They're already peering at the absolute peak right now. Plus Jin So-cheong's in there too. I just can't judge."

The Sword Demon, listening, said,

"It seems the Ten Great Experts had significant disparities in skill among them."

"Looks that way."

"Then... who were the 'one or two' you saw in the White Ox Divination?"

"Pardon?"

The Sword Demon stared straight at me.

"In the future you saw through the White Ox Divination, Jin So-cheong said that excluding himself, only one or two of the Ten Great Experts could face the Nine Yin Cult's High Priest."

"Ah."

"I understand the White Ox Divination predicts the future based entirely on the knowledge and experience you've gathered. So Jin So-cheong's judgment must have been influenced by your vague criteria for the 'Ten Great Experts.'"

"I see. Got it."

In other words, the top masters Jin So-cheong judged were the absolute rulers who commanded the highest regard fifty years later. I took a deep breath and said,

"The Heavenly Demon, Divine Spear, and Fist Saint were acclaimed as the supreme masters dominating the era."

"What kind of people were the Heavenly Demon and Fist Saint?"

"The Heavenly Demon was the era's greatest demonic expert, who perfected a mysterious demonic absolute art and was called invincible. The Fist Saint was hailed as the supreme fist master from Goryeo and was also undefeated."

"The Divine Spear too?"

"Yes."

The Sword Demon nodded as if understanding.

"So the Heavenly Demon, Divine Spear, and Fist Saint all gained fame as invincible paragons without defeat. That's why the martial world couldn't judge until they clashed. It's like the paradox of the spear and shield—you can't know the outcome until they collide."

"Exactly."

"Absolute realm masters could discern superiority, but such figures wouldn't indulge the martial world's gossip."

The Sword Demon's insight was remarkable. He'd pieced together the whole story from my few words.

Then Yeon Jong-hwi, listening from the side, muttered,

"Are you all collectively insane? What nonsense have you been spouting since earlier..."

"Yeon Jong-hwi."

"Decide quick whether to kill me or let me go."

"You can't believe you'll become the Bow King?"

When I asked, Yeon Jong-hwi replied incredulously.

"Why would I take such a corny title? I have no desire for fame in the martial world; I was just seeking a place to train and perfect my martial arts. Then unluckily, I ran into you lot..."

"......"

But I couldn't be mistaken. The Yeon Jong-hwi before me would definitely become a Ten Great Expert.

I sent a transmission to the Sword Demon.

[Did that guy use Invincible Will?]

[He did. Weakly, but he knows how to use Intent Severing Technique. That's why I said he's a big shot.]

[No doubt.]

[Planning to take him along?]

[Yes.]

[That'll be fun.]

Geuk Ho said,

"Then let's wrap up and head back."

"Got it."

As Geuk Ho said, I stuffed the corpses of the slain Nangong Family experts into the wooden crates. Leaving them would surely prompt various martial factions to investigate the culprits, so sealing them in crates made it look like they'd vanished. The remaining Nangong Family members were trapped in the Birth-Death Gate, ensured by Miho's illusions and having their memories altered.

Once cleanup was done, I slipped out, escorted the group back to Zhenbao Valley, and headed straight for Zhuge Sa.

Flash

Zhuge Sa stared at the unexpected intruder. As soon as I saw him, I cut straight to the chase.

"Zhuge Sa. How much time left on your contract with Wall Merchant? You need to find her soon to be recognized as the Heresy Cult Leader and help establish the Demon King's Temple of Myriad Gods. Is lounging around like this okay?"

"Who are you?"

"The Heresy Cult Leader."

I picked up the black obsidian and lightly tossed it to him. Instead of catching it directly, Zhuge Sa summoned a spectral arm in midair to grab it, clearly wary. I told him,

"I even know you implanted the Yin-Yang Heaven Curse into Zhuge Fu's body."

"......"

"That black obsidian transmits memories. Read it, and you'll know how I know."

"Interesting..."

Zhuge Sa accepted the black obsidian. Once the memory transfer finished, he looked somewhat baffled. Then he said,

"Now you're going all out from the start... Heh. You guys just wanted to show off your power, huh?"

Realizing he'd fully inherited the memories, I grumbled.

"Damn! It's so annoying repeating the same spiel every reincarnation. Isn't there some magic phrase to make you take the black obsidian easily?"

Zhuge Sa was so suspicious that regular bait wouldn't hook him. I had to rely on that sliver of madness in him. Handing over the black obsidian was always a challenge. Zhuge Sa shrugged.

"As if. If you're pissed, just beat me senseless and transmit the memories. With your current power, it shouldn't be hard."

"Don't lie. If I pressure you with martial arts, you'll use spells or curses for mutual destruction."

"Yeah, probably."

"Yeah, probably my ass... You want to see me perish because of you again?"

When I shot back in exasperation, Zhuge Sa grinned.

"It's fun."

"......"

Zhuge Sa rose from his chair and said,

"Anyway, thanks to that Geuk Ho guy, you've regained plenty of confidence. Feels good crushing those losers?"

"You have to say it like that? We just subjugated the evil Nangong Family."

"But from their perspective, it was thunder from a clear sky."

"What they think doesn't concern me."

My firm reply drew a strange smile from Zhuge Sa.

"Is that so?"

"......?"

"Whatever. You handled the aftermath cleaner than expected. Now, let's plan to gather remaining fortuitous encounters, sweep them up, and maximize training time."

"Zhuge Sa. We can't just leave the Imperial Palace alone."

"Heh. White Lotus Cult, Imperial Palace, Twelve Laws... Figuring out how to balance their delicate standoff."

That was the issue.

Leaving the Imperial Palace be would let it grow overwhelmingly strong with the evil gods' support as time passed after my previous life, beyond saving. Sure, ways to smash it existed, but they'd require borrowing the gods' power heavily.

Destroy the Imperial Palace, though, and the White Lotus Cult would rampage into the Central Plains afterward. If its leader pursued the Wordless Old Mother's doctrines by any means, it'd reignite war between the [Ancient Rulers] and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

The Twelve Laws were a third force, but in chaos, they could intervene for profit or assassinations. Their leader was an enigmatic, mysterious freak whose thoughts were unknowable.

Zhuge Sa said,

"My plan is similar to last time, but this round, skip the Vessel Summoning Ritual entirely."

"What?"

"The major deviation in your last life was becoming a apostle of Jeon-wook. Up to then, you'd subdued the Imperial Palace smoothly without drawing attention, but afterward, the Sea God subjugation and White Lotus Cult tangled, spiraling events out of control. Any Vessel Summoning Ritual would cause massive repercussions anyway."

Zhuge Sa crossed his arms.

"Don't become a god's apostle or perform the ritual. That's lighting a bomb's fuse. Instead, gather the Seven Luminaries as much as possible and pour all fortuitous encounters into maximizing personal power. Plan to hole up training for at least twenty years."

"Got it."

"Wang-ryang probably thinks similarly. Just one sticking point..."

"What?"

"Something you must investigate."

Zhuge Sa paused before saying,

"Why the Heavenly Realm's strongest fighting immortal, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, opposes gathering the Seven Luminaries."

"......?"

"He defied Heavenly Realm orders on his own to oppose their release. I suspect the cause lies in his journey to Tianzhu with Triptaka."

Hearing that, a flash of insight hit me.

"We can summon Triptaka's soul with the Heavenly Divine Scripture. Or ask the Demon Monkey King directly."

"Right."

Zhuge Sa's eyes gleamed.

"I have a bad feeling. That Triptaka's existence seems like the key to unraveling much."

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