Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

After the Half-Heaven Alliance joined forces with the White Lotus Cultists, Mangyang used his sorcery right there to seal the tentacle fragment in a small vial. It seemed he thought it worth studying. Soon, the group began advancing slowly when Yong Bicheon suddenly shouted.

"Huh?!"

He froze in place, his face stiffening as he looked at the Cult Leader. The Cult Leader gave a faint nod, as if having received his transmission, and spoke.

[This ahead is the Demonic Domain.]

Mangyang replied.

"You mean the entire demon-infested otherworld has been summoned here?"

[You understand perfectly...]

"Without resistance to demonic energy, we won't be able to go any further."

Mangyang glanced around and said.

"Our Half-Heaven Alliance has a countermeasure."

[What might that be?]

"We'll boost resistance to demonic power with sorcery and set up barriers. It should prevent power drain even when fighting inside."

[Excellent... With your skills, you can apply it to our side as well, right?]

At those words, Mangyang carefully examined the White Lotus Cultists. Then he said.

"Perhaps it's best to send the Elders back."

The First Elder and Third Elder openly showed their displeasure. The First Elder was a supreme peak expert who had returned to his youth, and the Third Elder was no less skilled.

"This punk dares to..."

"Demons aren't something we can face with the martial arts we've cultivated. Our Half-Heaven Alliance members are ready to move in perfect unison under my command, but the Elders aren't, are they? Ordinary humans like us can only avoid corruption by strictly following the path of the sorcery."

"..."

"If you can obey my commands, I'll cast it on you."

"Ugh."

The First Elder, dismissing Mangyang's words as nonsense, gathered fierce energy in his left palm. With his temperament, he probably wanted to strike and kill Mangyang right then. But the White Lotus Cult Leader's following words were ice-cold.

[That makes perfect sense.]

"Cult Leader!!"

[The Elders, return to the main cult immediately. Can you break through the great army?]

"... We can. Please preserve your sacred body..."

The elite Elders had no choice but to exit the labyrinth. Since the absolute formation was single-use once broken, they could get out, but piercing the 450,000-strong encirclement remained. However, as supreme peak experts each, it wouldn't be too difficult.

The White Lotus Cult Leader crossed his arms and eyed Mangyang.

[Half-Heaven Alliance Leader... You seem profoundly knowledgeable in sorcery and demon arts alike. Who was your master sorcerer?]

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."

[You pointed out the Elders' weak mental resistance but said nothing of our Water God Style experts... What do you know?]

Of course, Mangyang already knew the White Lotus Cult's Water God Style had negotiated with the Sea God's clan to take demons into their bodies. But he deftly deflected.

"Hmm... What do you mean? Even you, the Cult Leader, seem quite familiar with demon arts."

[Zhuque is the same, no doubt...]

The White Lotus Cult Leader, smoothly changing the subject, continued.

[One hundred li ahead lies the Demonic Domain swirling with madness. Those consumed by it must be killed. Beware—it's said to be utterly miserable for the corrupted, so granting death is mercy.]

A chill swept through the Cult Leader's words.

What kind of hell awaited?

Roooar

After about fifty li, a blood-red blazing land came into view opposite. But the red wasn't flame—it was closer to bloodlight. Mangyang, sensing something, immediately cast sorcery on his Half-Heaven comrades.

"Five Poisons One Vessel Seal!!"

Blue light enveloped the allies. The Sword Demon beside him said in surprise.

"My mind was just dazed, but now it's clear."

"Be careful. The Cult Leader's warning isn't empty. This is the [Old Ruler]'s domain summoned wholesale into our world—malevolent energy runs rampant."

"So it seems..."

"We can last half a shichen inside at most. After that, my sorcery fails, so we must escape immediately."

"Got it."

Step

Step

"......!!"

Fwoosh

The moment everyone stepped into the Demonic Domain, all directions turned horrific bloodlight. The ground squelched like living flesh, veins and bloodskin pulsing. Eyeballs everywhere bulged grotesquely.

Floor and ceiling alike seemed alive. The throb of blood flowing through veins was palpable.

Geukho, scanning it, muttered.

"Looks just like human innards."

It did.

The place felt not natural but like stepping into a colossal creature's guts. The sticky sensation of walking atop heart veins unsettled everyone. The White Lotus Cult Leader peered in and murmured.

[Blood Shadow Flowers are blooming...]

Where the Cult Leader looked, a massive flower dangled horrific human faces and writhed tentacles. Whether it deserved "flower" was debatable, but after spotting it, he warned the allies.

[Sharpen your senses and stay alert to surroundings. Avoid the Blood Shadow Flowers especially—dangerous if attacked.]

"What are they?"

[Weeds in the Ruler's garden, but they despise humans greatly.]

"We must be cautious..."

"Despise" meaning they craved human flesh, of course. Geukho grumbled inside.

"There's one every twenty steps..."

As Geukho said, Blood Shadow Flowers, suspicious eyeballs, and veins were plentiful. Treating each as a trap, ordinary skill couldn't pass. The Sword Demon chuckled at Geukho.

"Geukho, no whining. You're skilled enough."

"Well, sure."

"Test it—break through first."

"Ugh."

Prodded by the Sword Demon, Geukho reluctantly unleashed his secret art.

Soul Extinguishing Step

Heavenlight

Flash-flash-flash

"......!!"

Everyone marveled. In an instant, light streaked out, and Geukho pierced a hundred li flawlessly! True lightning footwork—the Blood Shadow Flowers along the path reacted late, exploding, but too late. Geukho landed lightly opposite and shouted.

"These things are suspicious! Watch your breathing."

Yong Bicheon extended both hands, manipulating air currents.

Whoooosh

His wind power sucked in the air, creating a momentary vacuum. Then, he stabbed an air spear into the slimy ceiling guts, bursting blood clots.

Pop-pop-pop

[Spore that roots in human innards when breathed. As expected, Blood Shadow Flowers are extremely dangerous...]

The Cult Leader murmured, gathering Primordial Spirit power to hurl the foul clots far away. Not just him—the other Dharma Protectors slowly cleared hazards while advancing, possible only because Geukho had burst the flowers first, finding a safe path. Once the whole group reached the opposite side safely, Mangyang sighed in relief.

"Whew! How can such an ominous place..."

[Strong power ahead.]

The Cult Leader glanced opposite. The gut-like area ended, abyssal darkness reappearing beyond. Something emanated presence from the abyss, measurable clearly only by the Cult Leader, who pondered long.

At last, the White Lotus Cult Leader said.

[Let's go.]

The abyssal darkness stretched long. Prismatic rainbow lights scattered like path decorations within, but repulsive—not beautiful. The unnatural colors grated on emotions. Jin So-cheong, walking, muttered.

"This light disrupts the mind..."

"It's cosmic hue."

"Cosmic hue?"

"The phenomenon when a constellation's barren demonic power descends to the human world, they say. Naturally harmful to humans."

Step

They'd pierced the abyss's dark and emerged. In the serene darkness, soldier burial mounds dotted everywhere, a massive altar at the vast center. On the altar's middle stair stood a white-robed woman.

From the opposite passage, the Twelve Rhythm Lords emerged. One eyed the White Lotus Cult Leader and said.

"That monster seems the final hurdle?"

[Indeed... A formidable foe.]

"We combine forces?"

[If we don't stab each other in the back, we might win.]

"Hmph."

Their gazes fixed on the white-robed woman. She wore ancient garb, like from the Hwan era. Stunning enough for "nation-topping beauty," her face gave me déjà vu.

Huh... She looks familiar...'

Pondering, I realized.

'Right! She resembles Miho!'

Not exactly her transformed look, but the vibe was similar. If Miho's was playfully seductive, this woman's face held zero human warmth. From that, I gleaned something, stared grimly at Cheon-jin, then told Cheon-jin.

"Everyone's in danger! I need to go there..."

"Hmph. Sharp eyes, huh. But no."

"What?!"

Cheon-jin, maintaining Cheon-jin's sorcery, said coldly.

"If it's what you think, even you now would fall in one strike."

"I could neutralize it before..."

"Is that the goal here? It isn't."

"......"

"The baleful god's incantation works only once, and defeating it isn't the point. I'll tell you the moment to enter—so stay put."

"Got it."

Reluctantly stepping back, the chamber's mood had shifted slightly.

The white-robed woman had taken one slow step forward. With alluring poise, she addressed the chamber.

"Insignificant worms. You've dared reach the great throne of nightmares. Do you know your acts defy the god himself—utter folly?"

Her clear voice carried potent demonic power, making some stagger. To infuse such force casually meant immense strength. The White Lotus Cult Leader eyed her and said.

[If I could, I'd tear even that god apart with these hands.]

"Umfufu... Arrogant cur... Thinking carrying chaos makes you different from other bugs?"

The white-robed woman laughed gleefully, her body suddenly swelling hugely.

It seemed swelling—an optical illusion. Actually, her disguise unraveled, revealing her true form. The change finished instantly; in a flash, a colossal, distorted Taiji unleashed a massive demon beast into the chamber.

Craaack

[Ahahaha!]

Rumble-rumble-boom

Too vast for mere yokai. As if the mountain cave too small, the giant stretched, space expanding with it. Mangyang, awed, cried.

"Expanding dimensions with yokai power alone...!!"

When fully summoned, it matched the size I knew, the chamber vastly widened. Silver fur billowed, nine massive tails enwrapping the world, scarlet eyes loftily gleaming from the demonic core.

[Fearless bugs! You shall be a meal for me, Dalgi!]

God's apostle Dalgi had descended to our world!

Expected, yet the White Lotus Cult Leader and Twelve Rhythm Lords, hearing it confirmed, were shocked. Combat began; they assumed defensive stances. Dalgi's first strike whipped its tail.

Boom-boom-boom-crash

Just a tail swing, yet even blocked by the Cult Leader and Dharma Protectors, they staggered back.

[Urgh!]

The Twelve Rhythm Lords outright abandoned frontal block, fleeing the spot. But not unscathed—vomiting blood echoed. One tail swing nearly wiped us out.

Whoooosh

[Full power. Dharma Protectors, assist me.]

The White Lotus Cult Leader floated the Infinite Heavensless Mudra, preparing maximum output. Opposite, the dodged Twelve Rhythm Lords roused Moonlit Night Armor and Galaxy Severing Blade auras. The world's strongest forces were about to clash in epic battle against God's apostle Dalgi.

Mangyang, watching from behind, turned to his Half-Heaven comrades and shouted.

"Now. This is your moment."

Mangyang bellowed.

"Go, Jin So-cheong!"

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