Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I escorted Miho to Dongyoung. After piling her room full of platinum ingots, she gazed at them contentedly and spoke.

"Baek Woong. Leave things here to me. I'll mine plenty of black obsidian for you."

"I'll leave it in your hands."

A sudden thought struck me, and I asked.

"Won't onmyoji or shogunate assassins become a nuisance...?"

"Don't worry. I've simply found them too bothersome until now."

Miho picked up a single platinum ingot and continued.

"With just about five of these, I could hire the entire Kouga clan to my side. If they serve as my guards, I'll have nothing to fear from assassins or onmyoji henceforth."

"It's one of the two greatest ninja forces, alongside Iga. They say many of them are born with supernatural abilities."

If Miho was this confident, then it should be fine.

After seeing Miho off, I returned straight to Jangryeong Valley. There was no end to the things I could do if I set my mind to them, but right now, rather than starting new ventures, I needed to focus on training to build my strength.

When I arrived, Zhuge Sa said.

"To reach the Absolute Realm, you must make a master who's already attained it as your teacher. So in this life, let's revive Yi Cheong-un. Neither the White Lotus Cult Leader nor Musashi are in a position to serve as your master."

Feeling uneasy, I replied.

"Is that okay? The Black Tablet's power can only be used once..."

Zhuge Sa chided me.

"When you have too much at your disposal, stray thoughts multiply. Right now, you're overwhelmed by your options and losing your judgment. If it doesn't work, just kill yourself and try again—so use what you've got without holding back."

"......"

"Didn't you say your goal is training? We already know this life won't see it through to the end. So don't sweat the other stuff."

If it doesn't work, just suicide—Zhuge Sa spoke of my life so casually. But his words weren't wrong, and since it was him saying it, I could accept them.

Paat!

Using Return, I went to the village on Mount Tai. Then, activating the Black Tablet, I entered the jungle of Dark Heaven Village and confronted him.

[Welcome... A most extraordinary being has come to the land of illusory dreams...]

"Ah."

[Speak... With the power of reversal granted to me... I shall give you one right to turn life to death... and death to life... No one... can escape this power...]

Having faced this being countless times, complex emotions welled up in me. He was undoubtedly a god of ill fortune and utmost malice, enough to awaken the will of divine death within me—yet at the same time, one of my most powerful allies.

"Tch. No helping it..."

Deep down, I wanted to settle the debt from my 19th regression right then and there, but this wasn't the time for that. Right now, I needed to milk this guy for all he was worth. Before asking him to revive Yi Cheong-un, I decided to ask a few things I'd always wondered about.

"O God. I have some questions—may I ask?"

[Speak...]

It hit me that the one before me was one of the supreme divinities in the world. Asking directly might shortcut things immensely.

"I know that the [Ancient Rulers] are counting down the days to the apocalypse that will come in some five hundred years. You've said you receive a [Revelation] at that apocalypse—what is it you so desperately desire from that revelation?"

[......]

Gururuk.

The eyes bulging across the jungle ruler's body blinked, emitting eerie sounds. In a strange voice, he replied.

[Human... Why do you wonder about that...?]

"How could I not? The [Ancient Rulers] possess transcendent might beyond all creation—it's hard to even imagine them clinging greedily to something. I want to know why you crave that revelation so much."

[Heh heh heh... To know the secrets of the gods to that extent... You truly are intriguing...]

Doong.

The jungle ruler suddenly flapped his wings and rose slightly. I'd only seen this reaction at the very end of past lives' deaths, so I was a bit startled. He drew a little closer and said.

[Intriguing... Kuh heh heh.]

Every time he spoke, I felt an immense pressure from his demonic power and authority, making it hard to respond.

"Everyone in this world with any awareness knows the apocalypse approaches. Is that so surprising?"

[I marvel for two reasons...]

The being halted in midair, fixing his eyes on me.

[First. You converse with me so naturally for so long... Something no puny human could ever do... Even with the Black Tablet's blessing...]

"......"

[Second. Most know of the apocalypse, but very few know a revelation follows it. Only the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, or those chained to vast secrets of fate... the [Ancient Rulers]... or their apostles... Even mortals who know this don't grasp how desperately the [Ancient Rulers] yearn for it...]

After a pause, he said.

[I like you, mortal... As a special favor, I shall tell you what the revelation means...]

His tone dripped with condescension, but I had no room to care.

Uncovering the nature of the [Revelation] was truly crucial!

It might even upend my regressions!

Having accessed top-tier intel in one go, I stared intently at the jungle ruler.

"Tell me."

[Very long ago... Perhaps right after this universe's birth... The Void Record was etched at time's center... The primordial Void Record awakened with its own will, ascending as an Outer God... Becoming the wisest being in this cosmos...]

The wisest being.

Outer God.

As I absorbed this, the jungle ruler continued.

[That one knew the time and place when the world's greatest existence would regress and descend... For it was the Void Record itself... Thus, eons ago, it informed the [Ancient Rulers] and oversaw them. And so we all awaited that regression...]

"And then...?"

[It vanished at some point. Thus, we lost knowledge of the precise moment... Leaving us no choice but to wait eternally on this planet...]

"......"

Listening to the jungle ruler, realization dawned, and I said.

"So the [Revelation] is an event revealing the exact time of the Absolute One's regression?"

[You could see it that way...]

I wanted more details, but the jungle ruler pressed on.

[Mortal... Beyond this, uncover it with your own power...]

"...Understood. Please revive the human Yi Cheong-un."

[Very well...]

Paat!

A burst of white light ejected me to the outside world. Without delay, I headed to Yi Cheong-un's tomb.

Upon arriving, I unleashed a lion's roar toward wherever Yi Cheong-un might be.

[Thunder God Style's Dharma Protector Lion Yi Cheong-un! Thunder God Style disciple Baek Woong wishes to meet you.]

The response was immediate. Like blue mist coalescing from thin air, Yi Cheong-un suddenly appeared in empty space. Even with my heightened martial prowess, I couldn't fathom what mind-severing technique he was using—I swallowed hard.

Yi Cheong-un eyed me with interest and said.

"What's this? Could it be you, Baek Woong, who brought me back to life?"

To show no hostility, I clasped my hands in salute and answered.

"Yes."

"Incredible."

"Is there reason to doubt your own living self? Don't you exist because you think, Dharma Protector?"

At my question, Yi Cheong-un replied bitterly.

"You're certainly of the Thunder God Style."

"Thunder God Style practitioner. May I now state my business?"

For some reason, hearing "practitioner" seemed to ease Yi Cheong-un's guard a touch.

"Speak."

I extended a black obsidian toward him and said.

"This black obsidian transmits memories. Accept it, and you'll know how I came to revive you."

"Suspicious."

"If it seems so, feel free to beat me down and torture me. I won't go quietly, though."

Yi Cheong-un brightened and replied.

"Do you take me for some street thug or ruffian? A Thunder God Style practitioner wouldn't stoop to that."

"......"

"Besides, we need to hear you out for anything to progress. Give me the stone."

"Here."

Wooooo.

Soon, the memories transferred to Yi Cheong-un. After absorbing them, he looked dazed for a moment before turning to me.

"Good heavens...? To think you've undertaken such an epic odyssey. Across life and death, no less..."

"You've journeyed with me before, practitioner. The Eight Immortal Divine Arts, which evolved the Seven Ultimate Arts, is your legacy."

"Hmm... Even hearing that, it doesn't feel real."

Yi Cheong-un spoke bitterly.

"Regardless, thank you for reviving me. I'll do my utmost to advance your martial arts."

"Thank you."

"Also, I'd like to test your skills here and now, if that's alright?"

I nodded, tense.

"Please, one exchange."

Pajik!

The next instant, Yi Cheong-un unleashed Thunder God Soul, pressing his sword finger to my throat. I hadn't even drawn my sword halfway. Overwhelmed by the absurd speed of Thunder God Soul, my hand trembled in awe.

Ultimate Swiftness!

I'd felt it during training before, but Thunder God Soul's speed was truly terrifying. At this gap, in a life-or-death duel with Yi Cheong-un, I wouldn't last three exchanges—heck, that single move would've pierced my throat and killed me instantly.

Yet Yi Cheong-un said, astonished.

"Indeed... Your skill has advanced far beyond the past. Across the entire Central Plains, only a handful of swordsmen could draw their blade that far against Thunder God Soul. Most can't even react before perishing in one strike. You endured with your qi barrier and left room for a counter, didn't you? Even by White Lotus Cult standards, that's top-tier pure martial realm."

"...Thank you for the praise."

"But that's where it gets tough."

Yi Cheong-un continued awkwardly.

"You seem to have reached the cusp of super-peak. Yet stepping from there to the Absolute Realm is the greatest hurdle in martial history. Even geniuses training from infancy collapse before it, over ninety percent failing."

"......"

"Hmm, taking someone as untalented as you to the Absolute Realm... I'm not confident..."

Yi Cheong-un wasn't mocking or threatening—he genuinely seemed troubled. After pondering, he said.

"Well, let's head back to this Jangryeong Valley place and discuss. This isn't something I can handle alone."

Paat!

I returned to Jangryeong Valley with Yi Cheong-un. I gathered all my martial companions who were training and introduced him. Jin So-cheong and Geuk-ho alike sent gazes of respect, while even the Sword Demon looked at Yi Cheong-un with admiration. Once introductions ended, Yi Cheong-un said.

"As you know, our goal is elevating Baek Woong to the Absolute Realm. However, I believe normal training methods would take a century, even then likely impossible."

The Sword Demon, listening beside him, twitched an eyebrow.

"Isn't that overly pessimistic...?"

"It's the truth. Reaching the Absolute Realm is worlds apart from peak to super-peak. Even I barely survived death's door multiple times to attain it..."

Yi Cheong-un sighed and said.

"So I'd like another opinion."

"Whose?"

"There's one other Absolute Realm master—and far stronger senior—who shares my attainment, no?"

Woooooong.

Before long, in the training ground, I summoned Yeo Dongbin while facing Yi Cheong-un. To her, I said.

"Yeo Dongbin. I offer ten years of my lifespan—spar with Yi Cheong-un, debate martial theory with him, and guide me to the Absolute Realm! Oh, and instruct me as my martial master too..."

[......]

Yeo Dongbin froze, as if dumbfounded.

"Yeo Dongbin?"

Her sword-wielding apparition then spoke gravely.

[Younger one. What you just said rang like this in my ears.]

"How so?"

['Take this sword and slay a hundred yokai, battle a hundred thousand troops, then seal a dragon.']

"......"

Was my proposal really that outrageous?

Yeo Dongbin shook off her bafflement and said.

[To grant that request—even from you, the younger one—I'd need at least seventy years of lifespan minimum.]

"Tch... Seventy years."

That was too much.

Sure, I died on whims plenty, but this life's goal was training. Losing seventy years meant even with an expert's longevity, surviving a century-plus would be tough. I might croak in under twenty.

No matter how I thought, it differed from the Zhang Sanfeng case, so I protested.

"Aren't wandering immortals like Zhang Sanfeng supposed to teach martial arts to humans without huge prices when forging bonds?"

[What Zhang Sanfeng does is his business. He has no great ambitions, so he expends his spirit and dao power to bear the karma instead—but I cannot.]

"Why not?"

[I have matters in the Heavenly Realm requiring my gathered strength.]

"......?"

First I'd heard of that. As I gaped, Yi Cheong-un, standing opposite, said nonchalantly.

"Then, Yeo Dongbin. I'll offer twenty years of Baek Woong's lifespan in his stead. That should cover this spar, right?"

[...Very well.]

Negotiations complete, Yeo Dongbin and Yi Cheong-un faced off.

"One exchange, please, Sword Immortal."

[I look forward to it.]

At last, the earth immortal and the Thunder God Style's greatest Dharma Protector Lion would clash.

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