Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

In the face of Yeo Dongbin's sword, I hesitated over what to do.

'Facing him would be suicide...'

If it was Yeo Dongbin, he could crush me regardless of any connections or excuses. But simply offering my spirit back to the Heavenly Realm intact right here wouldn't solve anything. I felt I needed to understand why Yeo Dongbin was angry, so I gritted my teeth and said,

"Yes."

It was a gamble, an adventure. Even if Yeo Dongbin smashed me to pieces, I believed clashing swords here was the right move. As I gripped my sword and stepped forward boldly, Yeo Dongbin floated his immortal sword with sword control arts and spoke.

[You know the vast difference in our abilities, yet you accept. Is your life so worthless to you?]

"If I valued my life, I wouldn't have come this far."

Yeo Dongbin closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

Screech

Yeo Dongbin's controlled sword flew at me with overwhelming momentum, but I managed to read the first strike and deflect it. I was inwardly thrilled at having blocked Yeo Dongbin's attack, but the next instant, sharp pain exploded in my solar plexus and ribs.

Thud

"Gah...!"

What?!

I panicked at the unexpected blow, but the next moment, I felt additional impacts in no less than ten places. Upon checking, I realized Yeo Dongbin had simultaneously unleashed even faster sword strikes with his intent alongside the controlled sword. I hadn't detected those strikes and took them full force, but I was utterly astonished inside.

'I was barely able to block the controlled sword because it was so fast...'

If Yeo Dongbin hadn't held back, I would have died on the spot just now. Fortunately, he had only struck my vital points without any killing intent, so only pain came, but that didn't mean the situation had improved. Yeo Dongbin didn't stop there and began demonstrating his peerless sword qi.

Six Intentions Holy Heaven Diagram

Cloud Decision

Thousands of illusions of qi swords materialized and shot toward me. This was my first time facing the Six Intentions Holy Heaven Diagram as an opponent, but the moment I saw the Cloud Decision, despair filled my heart.

'Too... many... fast... and strong!!'

Clang

I desperately mobilized the Three Steps Ultimate Technique and every martial art I knew to deflect the Cloud Decision, but I could only barely handle the first and second waves. I was swept away by the third wave like a leaf in a storm and sent flying. The pain felt like my entire body was shattering, leaving me unable even to scream for a moment.

Thud

"Urk."

I crashed into the ground and nearly blacked out, barely regaining consciousness before flipping backward, but I no longer had the will to fight. The moment I saw the Cloud Decision, I truly realized the heaven-and-earth gap between Second Ascension and me. It was like an adult swatting a child's wrist.

'Why is this happening? I should be dozens of times stronger than when I first met Yeo Dongbin...'

No, that's not it.

The stronger I became, the more palpably real Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin's power felt.

Whether looking up from underground or the peak of Mount Tai, the sky is still the sky!

'I can't give up yet!'

I gritted my teeth and raised my sword again. Even so, collapsing without fighting spirit wasn't the act of a true swordsman. Yeo Dongbin immediately raised his immortal sword and slashed down vertically—a simple downward cut that carried pressure enough to stop my breath.

Boom!

I adapted the ultimate pinnacle technique of the Thunder God Sword Dance to block the slash, but at that instant, my iron sword snapped and flew off to the side. Sword Immortal's vertical strike came crashing down on my crown without mercy. The difference in the application level and power of intent severing techniques was overwhelming.

At this rate, my skull would split and my body halve, so I desperately thought of a way to survive. In that moment, all the experience and quality of martial arts I had accumulated sublimated into a single technique as an intent severing art.

No-Blade Seizure

Clang—

Sword Immortal's blade halted in midair, and more than half my palm was sliced. I had gripped the blade with both hands, and by sheer luck, I blocked Sword Immortal's vertical strike. Yeo Dongbin let out a hollow laugh.

[... Haha.]

It was less mockery and more sheer bewilderment. His anger seemed considerably eased as he withdrew his sword and said,

[Young fated one. You dare use a non-lethal secret art against me at your level?]

I clenched my bleeding hand, drops of blood falling, and replied,

"Nothing else came to mind."

[ Haha... Blade-grabbing... Haha... ]

After a moment of stunned bewilderment, Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin waved his hand. In an instant, the sword wound on my hand healed, and the agony throughout my body vanished. I was puzzled by Yeo Dongbin suddenly healing me when he spoke.

[If I hadn't held back just now, young fated one, your body would have been cleaved in half.]

"..."

[Such a non-lethal counter technique is hard to wield even after decades of single-minded training.]

Had it been reckless to use the No-Blade Seizure without mastering it? I felt embarrassed but gripped my sword again and said,

"Yeo Dongbin. Is there any more need for us to fight?"

[Young fated one. What do you intend to do from here?]

"I will pacify the chaos-ridden world and save humanity."

[......]

After a long silence, Sword Immortal continued.

[Young fated one. The reason I was angry with you is that word came from the Heavenly Realm: the Three Pure Ones designated you as the vanguard of the Ominous God...]

"Huh?!"

What nonsense was this?

As I stared at Sword Immortal in shock, Yeo Dongbin continued.

[In the end, the Ominous God obtained casualty and was released into the world. In seeking accountability, it was concluded that you were deeply involved. Thus, I, who chose you as my fated one, faced severe scrutiny. If the Heavenly Realm begins intervening on earth soon after, I will be branded a criminal. For the sin of lending power as a Second Ascension to you, who bears deep karma.]

"...!"

Me, the mastermind of this chaos?!

...No, I couldn't deny it entirely. If I had wanted, I could have prevented the Death Portrait Ghost's creation beforehand or chosen to subjugate it without compromise. But as Yeo Dongbin said, that was just hindsight. Weren't the true instigators the Imperial Palace faction and the Vermilion Bird of the Demon Subduing Hall?

Amid my confusion, I sorted my thoughts and looked straight at Yeo Dongbin.

"It may sound like an excuse, but it's not entirely my fault. I was only trying to stop evil forces."

[I know. But I had to test you once more to see if you are truly evil.]

He gazed at me with deep eyes and continued.

[And you summoned the courage to face me of your own will. I felt your righteous and upright resolve through our clashing swords, so I will trust you.]

"..."

Just now, Yeo Dongbin hadn't been truly angry—he was testing if I was the root of treachery. Had I resorted to evil powers or sent him back without listening, he would have lost all faith in me. Realizing deep down that my choice had been right, I sighed in relief but suddenly realized something.

"Wait a minute. Does that mean the Heavenly Realm is now my enemy?"

[We lack sufficient evidence yet, and greater issues loom larger than you, so we've left you be for now. But when the Heavenly Edict Altar descends, those who will subjugate you will come.]

"Urk. The Great Sage Equaling Heaven let it slide..."

[He cares for nothing outside his own affairs.]

Yeo Dongbin spoke firmly and continued.

[However, if you have faith in your own justice, you may not need to oppose the Heavenly Realm.]

"What do you mean?"

Whoosh

Yeo Dongbin suddenly extended his intent and pulled the Fire Dragon Divine Sword from my waist toward him. He examined the blade and said,

[If you can awaken my master, Fire Dragon True Man, before the Heavenly Edict Altar descends, there may be a way.]

"Fire Dragon True Man...?"

[The world's most potent fire essence will swiftly restore my master's power.]

Of course, I knew that method. Feeding him the millennia-condensed fire essence dwelling in the Fire Lake would revive Fire Dragon True Man soon enough. But I didn't fully grasp Yeo Dongbin's words and asked again.

"In a situation where the entire Heavenly Realm brands me a traitor to humanity, how would one Fire Dragon True Man help?"

I knew Fire Dragon True Man was an outstanding existence even in the Heavenly Realm, no ordinary Great Law Immortal. Yet his authority didn't surpass the Three Pure Ones. My doubt was entirely reasonable, but Yeo Dongbin gave a wry smile.

[First, awaken my master and explain the situation—he will tell you what to do.]

[Then you, Yeo Dongbin...]

[Since I believe you walk the righteous path...]

Fwoosh

Suddenly, Yeo Dongbin's entire body erupted in blue flames. The blue fire then flew into my heart and embedded itself. I was startled, but strangely, there was no external or internal injury—only a great stirring in my heart.

[I shall become the young fated one's sword with all my power!]

Crackle crackle

As the flaming Yeo Dongbin entered my body, immense power blazed through me, and peerless sword qi swirled in my mind.

'This... this is Yeo Dongbin's knowledge? Experience?'

There was no sign of his spirit overtaking me. But intense memories, as if overwriting all my existing martial knowledge and experience, kept twisting my mind. As I stood still trying to regain my senses, Manggyang, who had been watching from afar, approached and said,

"Impressive. Is this the ultimate immortal sword arts I've only heard of in tales?"

"Manggyang. Do you know what this phenomenon is?"

Manggyang nodded at my question.

"Yeo Dongbin is the Heavenly Realm's supreme practitioner of immortal sword arts. Not only does he call his Six Intentions Holy Heaven Diagram, Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship, and such collectively immortal sword arts, but he was renowned as a master who could create formless immortal swords for anything."

"Immortal sword arts..."

I recalled the memories in my head.

[Why is the Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship divided into five stages?]

[Because its purpose is to save the world.]

[The cases where I must transmit the Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship to the fated one to reach the immortal sword realm are precisely when the world is in turmoil. It asks if power is needed even at the cost of one's own sacrifice, young fated one.]

[The fated one has already begun with Faith, progressed to Enlightenment, entered Cessation, comprehended Emptiness, and reached Heavenly Escape—the quintessence of all five stages of the Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship. Thin, one should attain the true immortal sword realm!]

[But for some reason, the Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship's quintessence was used only to heal the contradictions in your inner self, failing to elevate you to the proper immortal sword realm. In this situation, I cannot teach you more Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship.]

That's right. Yeo Dongbin had transmitted the Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship to me upon our fateful connection, but despite mastering all five stages, I hadn't reached the immortal sword realm. He had been greatly disappointed, and even Jang Sambong had wondered why I, with an immortal sword, needed his arts.

From this experience, obtaining the immortal sword was the path to Second Ascension Yeo Dongbin's realm!

As I recalled the memories, Manggyang continued.

"He seems to have used immortal sword arts to transform his immortal body into a sword and synchronize it with your soul. Thereby artificially granting you the immortal sword realm."

"Is that even possible?"

"Immortal sword arts may look like sorcery, but they aren't. It's no exaggeration to say only Yeo Dongbin in all heaven and earth can wield them. Anyway..."

Manggyang cleared his throat and continued.

"Yeo Dongbin has resolved to literally become a sword and lend you his power. It's turning his back on the Heavenly Realm, with no guarantee of returning to his original form..."

"...!!"

"For a Great Law Immortal, it's akin to choosing death."

Hearing that, I was deeply shocked inside.

Yeo Dongbin, who seemed ready to endure any dirty deed for the Heavenly Realm and never defy its orders, chose sword transformation for my sake? It was a side I'd never seen in countless reincarnations, hinting at the resolve he bore.

'Because he believes in me.'

Yeo Dongbin gambled because he believed I could surely awaken and revive Fire Dragon True Man! The root of that faith was seeing me as the fated one who would uphold justice. Feeling Yeo Dongbin's burning sense of justice, tears welled up unbidden.

"...I understand."

I hurriedly wiped my tears with my forearm and shouted.

"Let's move now!"

There was no time for tears.

We head straight to find the White Lotus Cult Leader, stop the Little Cult Leader's awakening, and furthermore, borrow the Fire Lake's power to revive Fire Dragon True Man!

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