Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Moving the Twelve Rites Lord!

Indeed, in the current situation, he was the only one capable of checking the White Lotus Cult Leader. Even if we bolstered the Vermilion Bird, we couldn't ally with him since he was an enemy steeped in the demonic path. However, a question arose in my mind.

"How do you plan to move that man...?"

Throughout all my past lives, the Twelve Rites Lord had been so enigmatic that I couldn't even grasp how much hidden power he possessed, let alone his true goals. He had reached the pinnacle in both strategy and martial prowess, so rashly trying to use him could lead to disaster. Seeing my doubt due to the immense risk, Lord Zhuge spoke up.

"The Twelve Rites Lord has already scattered his eyes and ears across the Central Plains to monitor the situation. He must have detected the White Lotus Cult's rise even before this proclamation spread, and he knows the problem well."

"But his goals are unclear."

I let out a sigh.

"To be honest, I don't even know what he thinks of the Imperial Palace or the White Lotus Cult."

Lord Zhuge said,

"Even without knowing his goals, as long as he moves, that's enough. If two forces clash, the moment one gains the upper hand, it's over. But if we turn the balance into three forces instead of two, none of them can move easily."

"So how exactly?"

"We're going to move the Righteous Heaven Alliance."

"What?"

The Righteous Heaven Alliance?

Why bring up the alliance of the Nine Great Sects and the righteous factions here? As I made a puzzled expression, Mang Ryang, who was beside me, spoke.

"While operating the Anti-Heaven Alliance all this time, we've gained considerable influence

Why bring up the alliance of the Nine Great Sects and the righteous factions here? As I made a puzzled expression, Mang Ryang, who was beside me, spoke.

"While operating the Anti-Heaven Alliance all this time, we've gained considerable influence over the Righteous Heaven Alliance. The Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader, Wei Ji-hun, even views our Anti-Heaven Alliance as allies. So we'll use the Anti-Heaven Alliance to move him, and have him contact the Twelve Rites Lord to draw him out."

"The Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Twelve Rites Lord forming an alliance?"

Mang Ryang nodded.

"Formally, yes. Until now, their territories were so distant that they ignored each other like dogs and chickens. But now, with the White Lotus Cult rising and threatening the martial world, Wei Ji-hun will accept our proposal and ally with the Twelve Rites Lord. I've already sent a messenger to explain the Twelve Rites Lord's might and mutual interests to him in detail."

"Hmm."

"And by putting the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader forward, we avoid direct scrutiny from the Twelve Rites Lord on our own forces. You won't have to step forward yourself, Baek Woong."

Indeed, that way we could move the Twelve Rites Lord without risking direct involvement. Moreover, both the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader and the Twelve Rites Lord saw the White Lotus Cult as a threat, so the chances of an alliance were high.

At that moment, the Sword Demon, who had been listening, spoke.

"All good, but what about the Imperial Palace's forces? It's been quite some time since we last checked them, so they've likely recovered considerable strength..."

"I haven't mentioned that yet."

Mang Ryang folded his fan and continued calmly.

"In the meantime, my uncle has learned much through the Zhuge Division about the alchemists' knowledge and the Portrait Automatons. They've mass-produced Dragon-People and Demon-People, and they've entered the process of creating special Portrait Automatons."

"Special Portrait Automatons...?"

"That's where I take over."

Lord Zhuge interjected and said,

"As I mentioned before, Portrait Automatons are essentially high-grade offerings dedicated to the gods. However, they cost a lot to produce, and they're ineffective for wishes above a certain level. So they experimented with Portrait Automatons and now plan to create a higher-grade version."

"Hmm..."

The Sword Demon crossed his arms, thought for a moment, and said,

"That means... they're making a delicacy to offer the gods?"

"Huhu! Spot on. If a regular Portrait Automaton is a dish from a first-class chef like the White Heaven Chef, then this advanced one is like the masterpiece of the supreme chef, the Azure Heaven Chef. It seems they're pulling out all the stops."

"Hmm."

"The tastier the offering, the better the reward from the gods, obviously."

Heaven Chef, then this advanced one is like the masterpiece of the supreme chef, the Azure Heaven Chef. It seems they're pulling out all the stops."

"Hmm."

"The tastier the offering, the better the reward from the gods, obviously."

Among chefs, they were divided into four ranks—Azure, Crimson, Black, and White—with Azure Heaven Chef signifying the highest master certified at the imperial banquet cooking contest before the emperor.

'Following Lord Zhuge's analogy, that's impressive...'

It meant they were aiming for the absolute pinnacle. The Sword Demon's eyes gleamed.

"That advanced Portrait Automaton must be the white-haired one."

"Most likely."

"How far along is it?"

"Probably at the draft stage. They've only built the basic framework and haven't infused the spirit and flesh yet. They estimate about five years to completion."

"Five years..."

The Sword Demon let out a groan.

"So the white-haired one we encountered before was incomplete."

"Probably. To see a finished one, we'd have to wait five years from now."

Five years was long if long, short if short.

Geuk Ho, who had been listening, spoke up.

"Until the Imperial Palace completes that advanced Portrait Automaton, they can't lose to the White Lotus Cult!"

"Right. In this life, we need to figure out what that white-haired Portrait Automaton really is. And once they finish it, we'll seize control and make it ours."

Lord Zhuge spread his hand wide.

"The next five years! Our goal in this game, with the Twelve Rites Lord drawn in, is to maintain peace for at least five years."

"How? Just bringing in the Twelve Rites Lord won't hold for five years..."

I said skeptically.

"If the Twelve Rites Lord joins, it could just turn into a muddy free-for-all. Three forces entangled would make it even more chaotic."

"A valid concern. Has studying improved your head a bit?"

"......"

Lord Zhuge grinned.

"I've already planned for that. The key is creating an opportunity for open talks."

And three days later.

Mang Ryang called another meeting. He smiled happily and said,

"The Twelve Rites Lord has accepted the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader's alliance proposal."

"Good."

"He also responded positively to another proposal. From now on, the Twelve Rites Lord will likely coordinate directly with the other forces."

"Then..."

Seeing my excitement, Mang Ryang nodded.

"This starts preparations for the tripartite summit."

Tripartite summit!

That was Mang Ryang and Lord Zhuge's scheme.

The leaders of the world's three greatest powers—the Imperial Palace, White Lotus Cult, and Twelve Rites Lord—gathering in one place for talks! Though they all distrusted and opposed each other, with the Twelve Rites Lord stepping into the Central Plains' mud, they'd have no choice but to check one another. And if a tripartite summit happened, a ceasefire agreement between them was possible.

The Sword Demon sighed.

"Whew! This is turning into a massive game. A tripartite summit... Controlling even one of those three great powers is huge, let alone all three?"

"It'll be difficult."

Mang Ryang flicked his fan and said,

those three great powers is huge, let alone all three?"

"It'll be difficult."

Mang Ryang flicked his fan and said,

"They're not meant to be controlled in the first place. They're the rulers and strongest sovereigns of the current martial world. All we can do is maneuver from behind to ensure they exercise at least some restraint."

"Restraint!"

"Yes. Restraint... If any one of them rampages freely, it'll cause massive sacrifices, but they all know their own power, so they'll hold back. And they know the first to act will suffer losses and weaken."

Mang Ryang grinned.

"In half a day, the White Lotus Cult and Imperial Palace will learn of the alliance between the Righteous Heaven Alliance and Twelve Rites Lord."

The Sword Demon's eyes lit up.

"You deliberately leaked it from the Anti-Heaven Alliance?"

"Yes. That way, the White Lotus Cult and Imperial Palace will take the Twelve Rites Lord seriously. And once he notices, he won't just stay holed up mysteriously in the east anymore."

At that moment, Geuk Ho, who had been listening, raised his hand high.

"Hey, Mang Ryang. Got a question."

"What is it?"

"In your view, which of the three great powers is the strongest?"

It was a crucial question. And one everyone here wondered about. As all eyes turned to Mang

"What is it?"

"In your view, which of the three great powers is the strongest?"

It was a crucial question. And one everyone here wondered about. As all eyes turned to Mang Ryang, he slowly opened his mouth.

"The White Lotus Cult. Precisely, the White Lotus Cult Leader as a one-man force."

"Damn it."

"Of course, it's not certain, but his emergence means he's backed by immense confidence and power. Probably on par with your nineteenth life's peak, Baek Woong. I think he wields strength rivaling even a Combat Immortal among the Great Raksasha Immortals."

"......"

"As you know, no human in the world—not even us—possesses such power. He's likely suppressing the Young Cult Leader's strange affliction, sealed with the [Eternal Fetus], through even greater force, half-transcending humanity."

Mang Ryang said gravely.

"Honestly, I don't know why he emerged without a cure for the Black-White Lotus or other afflictions reaching the White Lotus Cult. The most plausible explanation is that the Cult Leader forcibly bolstered his power to suppress the affliction and came out."

"I see. Has the Cult Leader surpassed the Great Raksasha Immortals..."

Geuk Ho's face darkened. His goal was revenge against the White Lotus Cult's Wind God Style, but with their leader being overwhelmingly strong, it left a bitter taste. Moreover, Yong Bi-cheon, the Wind God Style's guardian warrior, had likely grown stronger under the Cult Leader's tutelage.

Mang Ryang continued.

"But even as the strongest, the White Lotus Cult doesn't have a huge lead. In terms of overall forces, the three great powers are roughly equal. A razor-thin difference that could turn on a moment's luck... We can call it a stalemate."

Jin So-cheong, who had been listening with arms crossed, said,

"The victor could depend on which side we back."

"Exactly! We're the fourth force that can tip the balance. That's why from now on is truly critical."

Mang Ryang's eyes gleamed.

"We must scheme to the end so none of the three can emerge victorious, making them exhaust and check each other. The Anti-Heaven Alliance must become the martial world's final shadow manipulator."

"......"

"Baek Woong. Why that expression?"

"No... it's just..."

I scratched my head and said,

"Don't we... kind of look like the villains?"

"Hmm."

Mang Ryang seemed taken aback, as if it was an unexpected point. Lord Zhuge beside him

I scratched my head and said,

"Don't we... kind of look like the villains?"

"Hmm."

Mang Ryang seemed taken aback, as if it was an unexpected point. Lord Zhuge beside him chuckled.

"Kekekeke. Spot on. Hiding our identity to the end, manipulating the righteous factions, scheming for the mutual destruction of other powers... Straight out of a novel villain playbook?"

"......"

"It could turn into a story where the righteous White Lotus Cult Leader defeats the shadow leader Mang Ryang to win."

"That mustn't happen..."

As Lord Zhuge teased, Mang Ryang sighed deeply and said,

"Anyway, we need to maneuver so the three great powers hold a summit within a month. And now, Baek Woong, you need to act too."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Bring your priestly brother to our side."

Mang Ryang continued calmly.

"We didn't need him before, but the situation's different now. Without the Illusion God's help, we could face a counterattack from the three great powers and be wiped out in an instant. So bring him definitely."

"That guy's awfully prickly..."

"Use this method."

we could face a counterattack from the three great powers and be wiped out in an instant. So bring him definitely.

"That guy's awfully prickly..."

"Use this method."

Paat!

After memorizing Mang Ryang's plan, I headed to Mang Ryang Sunim's village. I hid the Heavenly Dark Secret Book and entered the village, and soon Cheon Woo-jin appeared before me. As expected, he wore an openly displeased expression.

"What business brings you here again?"

"I have a commission. The reward is this Silver Phoenix Vase."

I held out the Silver Phoenix Vase. Cheon Woo-jin's eyes immediately lit with curiosity, as if recognizing its value.

"Hoo, this is..."

I swiftly pulled the Silver Phoenix Vase away from his sight.

"It's not you I want to commission."

"Huh?"

Ignoring Cheon Woo-jin, I suddenly dashed toward the shrine inside. As he stared at me in bewilderment, I bellowed at the top of my lungs.

"Mang Ryang Sunim!! Take this as collateral and lend me that guy!!"

Seureureuk

In that instant, an overwhelming urge to sleep washed over me, and I fell asleep.

[The Silver Phoenix Vase... An artifact related to Chiyou.]

I heard a muttering voice.

Amid the mountain path, a black cat crouched in the middle of the trail—Mang Ryang Sunim—stared at me intently and said,

[How long do you plan to borrow my disciple?]

"About 50 years."

[Too long.]

"Hmm... 25 years. I'll use him cleanly and return him."

Mang Ryang Sunim wagged his tail.

[Planning to make him a slave? Two years.]

"Kugh... Fine."

Seureuk

Mang Ryang Sunim grabbed the Silver Phoenix Vase with his front paw and pushed it somewhere, and it vanished without a trace. Likely swallowed by a divine spell unique to gods. As he slowly disappeared beyond the mountain path, Mang Ryang Sunim said,

[I sense calamity. Don't get arrogant and suffer a counterattack...]

When I woke, Cheon Woo-jin stood before me, his face flushed red and blue. He seemed to feel immense aging but barely suppressed it and said,

As he slowly disappeared beyond the mountain path, Mang Ryang Sunim said,

[I sense calamity. Don't get arrogant and suffer a counterattack...]

When I woke, Cheon Woo-jin stood before me, his face flushed red and blue. He seemed to feel immense aging but barely suppressed it and said,

"...Take good care of me for the next two years..."

"Heh heh, likewise."

Seeing Cheon Woo-jin's expression, I grinned smugly, feeling satisfied.

'This is Mang Ryang's strategy.'

Pledging the Silver Phoenix Vase to Mang Ryang Sunim as collateral to forcibly recruit Cheon Woo-jin!

In this urgent situation, it was far more reliable than bickering with him day by day.

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