Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I spent the next hour listening in detail from Mang-ryang about the current situation.

Zhuge Sa had vanished into his laboratory, saying he had some preparations to make, and Jin So-cheong had left after telling me to come find him once I finished hearing Mang-ryang's story. So it was just the two of us.

"...Lady Miho went to the Heavenly Realm for aid, but all contact has been lost."

"I see..."

It was impossible to cover fifty years in just an hour, but at least through Mang-ryang's mouth, I could grasp how many events had unfolded during that time.

As I listened, a thought struck me, and I spoke up.

"Mang-ryang. Could this be... Changhil's sorcery?"

"What do you mean?"

Mang-ryang let out a chuckle.

"Heh. You're saying that this reality you've returned to after fifty years is actually an illusion crafted by Changhil, and that even we are fakes."

"......"

"It's a perfectly reasonable suspicion. From the information we've gathered, Changhil is the greatest servant of Emperor Gongsun Xuanyuan and a divine being on par with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. A being like Changhil could certainly conjure an illusion indistinguishable from reality."

Mang-ryang continued.

"But I believe the possibility is low."

"Why is that?"

"No illusion, no matter how profound, can create anything beyond the unconscious knowledge and experiences latent in your mind. In other words, if new information unknown to you continues to accumulate, steadily forging new lines of causality, it ceases to be an illusion. It becomes another reality."

"That's a bit hard to follow. Explain it simply."

"If this were an illusion, every moment you gain new knowledge and grow within it, you'd be twisting the causal chains. The instant illusion and reality link, not even a god can escape causality. If Changhil truly rivals the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, creating such a grand miracle isn't impossible, but..."

Mang-ryang rested his chin, deep in thought.

"It's simply too absurd to risk tampering with causality in the [Small Wheel] just to deceive you alone."

"I see..."

I understood Mang-ryang's explanation, thanks to my own knowledge of sorcery and causality. Deceiving me was possible, but the effort required was ludicrous.

In this reality, I'd already obtained information on the Nine Yin Church Leader's existence and the church's future plans. Soon, I would receive knowledge and skills from Mang-ryang, Zhuge Sa, Jin So-cheong, and others. Even if this were an illusion, the moment it influenced reality through me, the distinction became meaningless. Whether it was real or fake wasn't my concern right now.

Suddenly, Baek Woo-seon came to mind, and I said,

"But in Baek Woo-seon's future sight, I obtained clues about the Archbishop or some powerful Nine Yin Church entity."

"That was merely a high-level future prediction by Baek Woo-seon—a probabilistic coincidence drawn from all your experiences. But it didn't grant you any entirely new abilities or spells. Besides, Baek Woo-seon always hedges with 'if not, then not,' accepting post-observation shifts, so it doesn't violate causality."

"Ah."

"To prove it, I need to pass something on to you quickly."

Muttering that, Mang-ryang extended his hand.

Wooong

A pure white spiritual energy burst from his palm and connected to me. I recognized the spell and was startled.

"Soul Separation Great Method! The one you've cultivated all this time?!"

"Indeed. I, too, was taught the Soul Separation Great Method by my uncle and reached the pinnacle."

Mang-ryang linked my po soul with his through the method, then focused intensely, veins bulging on his forehead as he poured in his power.

Ooooo—

Pajijijik

Something was flowing in! Trembling, I felt knowledge and experience pouring into me along the soul thread connecting us. Moments later, the transmission ended, and Mang-ryang collapsed, utterly spent, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Huu..."

"What did you do?"

"Through the Soul Separation Great Method, I implanted the most useful spells I know directly into your memories. Unlike Grandmaster Mang-ryang's memories, this is my own understanding, fully transferred—so you can use them immediately."

"......!!"

He was right. I instantly knew I had reached a realm where I could freely wield five mid- and high-tier spells. Astonishingly, he'd even transferred the proficiency!

"This is incredible..."

Mang-ryang gathered himself and stood.

"It's possible because it's fifty years later. Uncle Zhuge Sa refined and advanced the Soul Separation Great Method over that time, and I collaborated on the research. Ordinary humans spend lifetimes just mastering it, but I shortened that while expanding my sorcery."

"Then you're a grand sorcerer now..."

"Probably. I'd say I've reached the level of your early reincarnation's junior brother."

Mang-ryang smacked his lips.

"Regrettably, the advanced method itself is too profound to pass on rashly. It might confuse what you already know."

"I understand."

The Soul Separation Great Method was already profoundly complex. The result of two Zhuge geniuses researching it for decades? No way I could grasp it in one go. I'd need explanations first.

"Hmm. Come to think of it, I skipped Cheon Woo-jin earlier."

Mang-ryang had recounted the past hour but deliberately omitted Cheon Woo-jin. Curious but not pressing, now that it came up, I sought clarification. He replied bitterly.

"After sensing the ominous god's power, Junior Brother Cheon Woo-jin became half-mad, losing all will to fight. Then he changed his mind and ascended to spy on the Heavenly Realm."

"I see."

"He rose swiftly to the rank of one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals, easily becoming a Great Luo Immortal. But..."

"But?"

"Contact cut off at some point."

Mang-ryang looked frustratedly at the sky.

"If we head to the mainland, we must look into his whereabouts..."

"Understood."

I spoke a bit more with Mang-ryang, then went to Jin So-cheong.

He stood with spear in hand amid a ruined clearing. Meeting his eyes, I spoke.

"Zhuge Sa and Mang-ryang have aged, but you're exactly the same."

"I needed to stay that way."

The sun was slowly setting. Expression unchanging, Jin So-cheong continued, sunset light on his face.

"As you know, Baek Woong, returning to youth is part of shedding the bones and exchanging the marrow. Once the body awakens to it, it either reverts to youthful vigor or maintains peak form as a balanced physique."

"You chose the balanced physique after shedding bones and marrow."

When a warrior's body reaches the ultimate realm and sheds bones and marrow, two paths open: returning to youth or balanced physique—retaining the original state. Jin So-cheong had chosen the latter, unchanging for fifty years, forever young.

After a silence, Jin So-cheong said,

"Actually, returning to youth boosts potential lifespan and inner power capacity more than balanced physique. Even in that state, one grows slowly over centuries, breaking limits a second time upon hitting walls. That's why seekers of martial ultimate often choose it."

Han Baek-ryeong had likely chosen it for the same reason.

"But you chose balanced physique because..."

"Returning to youth weakens combat power despite potential gains. Even with peerless arts, losing a body honed for decades and operating a small one creates limits. I've had no respite for fights since fifty years ago."

"......"

So that's how it was.

Curious, I asked,

"What triggers shedding bones and marrow? I've asked countless warriors, but none gave a clear answer."

Indeed.

I'd posed it to Myeong-ryeong-ja and Han Baek-ryeong who'd returned to youth, to past White Lotus Leader and Dharma Protectors, even Yi Cheong-un and Sword Demon. I wanted to know exactly when it came.

But none knew for sure. They vaguely guessed extreme inner power or body limits triggered it naturally, but even White Lotus Leader and Yi Cheong-un were unsure.

Naturally so—shedding bones and marrow was legendary, and those who'd achieved it rarely compared notes. Mostly experiential: "It just happened."

Jin So-cheong replied,

"Myeong-ryeong is once told you it's when qi peaks, transforming the body to ultimate state. But that's only half-right."

"You know the exact criterion?"

"Yes."

He continued.

"Baek Woong, your inner power is human peak, excluding Dharma Protectors, yet you haven't shed bones and marrow naturally. That's your real curiosity."

"Right."

That was it. I'd consumed countless elixirs—Black White Lotus, Millennium Snow Ginseng, Earth Spirit Pills—holding world's strongest power, yet no sign of shedding. It had always nagged me. Did fifty-years-later Jin So-cheong know why?

Focusing on him, Jin So-cheong slowly spoke.

"Reaching upper peak inner power is just basic condition. Truly, it requires need and will—these two."

"Need? Will?"

"Need means you must feel your limits and desperately crave change, like a starving man craving muscle—fervent wish reshaping the body."

I tilted my head.

"Isn't need and will the same? Just wish for it?"

"Will means something else."

His eyes sharpened on me.

"The body's own will."

"......?"

"You haven't fully mastered your body."

Swish

"......!!"

Suddenly, I flinched—an illusion of my throat pierced. It felt like Jin So-cheong's spear tip had impaled me without question, palms sweating. But realizing it was willpower suppression, I relaxed.

Jin So-cheong said,

"You couldn't even sense my first heart-spear form. My realm is absolute, but given your cultivation, you should've endured at least ten. Proof you don't perfectly control your body."

Dumbfounded, I said,

"No one's ever said that..."

"Their martial realms were too low to notice. Plus, your massive inner power hid the flaw."

Heart-Controlled Spear

Hundred Flowers Linked Dance

Thududung

His words ended, and I felt holes riddling my body. He hadn't moved a muscle—his heart-spear struck first. Terrifying: a willpower absolute art, yet impossible to dodge or block.

Had it carried killing intent, I'd have died hundreds of times.

What... what art is this...

Thunder God Possession's speed was immense, but this transcended speed—I knew instantly. Absurd prediction: Jin So-cheong's heart-spear might overpower Thunder God Possession.

"What I felt breaking absolute realm walls repeatedly: our bodies possess individual wills."

"What? The body is controlled by the brain..."

"In martial world, no. Your accumulated martial karma embeds in the body, manifesting its own realm, backing mental imagery. But you..."

Lowering his spear, Jin So-cheong said,

"Are a reincarnator. Mind's karma from decades of mastery mismatches body's—ten-year-old youth. Mismatch causes contradiction; body doesn't respond to your proficiency, blocking shedding."

"......"

"Unique disharmony only you, among all warriors, suffer. A reincarnator's weakness."

Now I understood.

Body-mind disharmony!

A longtime worry, now confirmed as shedding obstacle. Cautiously, I asked,

"Must I shed bones and marrow? Otherwise, no absolute realm?"

"Not necessarily. But for you—maybe."

"Why?"

"Your unnaturally prolonged peak stay, hard absolute ascent—not just talent lack. Body-mind disharmony holds you back."

His calm gaze fixed on me.

"Absolute realm: forging Martial Will into Heaven Pillar. Near-mad Martial Will defining world beyond self. Absolute mind requires heart-technique-body harmony somehow."

"......!!"

"For you, more than talent: resolving inner contradiction via Chaotic Enlightenment. And unwavering conviction in your absolute realm."

"Conviction..."

Pondering, Jin So-cheong said,

"I'd share my insights calmly, but no time. Must head to mainland now—prepare."

"...Understood."

I agreed.

Whatever the world, staying in Tatou Kingdom to inherit arts from Jin So-cheong, Mang-ryang, etc., might work—but situation forbade. If Nine Yin Leader crushed Heavenly Realm, ominous god's grand descent follows—humanity's true end. Hiding impossible then.

'Will it work?...Must make it.'

Gritting teeth.

Mobilize all means to kill or seal Nine Yin Leader.

Soon, four of us gathered at Tatou Kingdom base, me included.

Zhuge Sa said,

"Bad news from mainland."

"What?"

"Heavenly Realm lost to Nine Yin Leader. Twenty Great Luo Immortals massacred at Luoyang alone."

"......"

"Many Pure Ones slain too."

Hearing defeat before start, I paled, but Zhuge Sa continued.

"This is last chance. Soon, Nine Yin Leader will use self as medium at Luoyang for ominous god descent, collapsing Great Barrier Realm."

Zhuge Sa said,

"Assassinate him mid-ritual. Humanity's only path."

"Possible?"

"Kukuku. Honestly, needs miracle. Power gap too vast. Not even bishops easy."

Zhuge Sa wryly smiled.

"So work a miracle, our foolish king."

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