Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Paht!

The place where we arrived on the mainland was somewhere near Guangdong Province. Overlooking Guangdong Province at a glance, this mountainous area housed a secret base of the Heaven-Defying Alliance, protecting a large number of survivors. Guangdong Province showed clear signs of devastation in its city streets, likely from the recent Nine Church raid that killed and burned so many people.

'How many died?'

At least tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, massacred or offered as human sacrifices. I knew of the horrific situation, so a sigh escaped me, but now wasn't the time to worry about it. As we entered the interior of the secret base, a figure wearing a bamboo hat was waiting for us.

The man in the bamboo hat trembled violently upon seeing me, as if greatly startled.

"It's... really the same as before."

"......?"

He then prostrated himself toward me and cupped his fists.

"Huh?"

I was utterly shocked by his words. Yeon Jonghwi?!

But when he removed his bamboo hat, revealing the face of an aged middle-aged man, my surprise deepened. The flow of time was evident, yet his former features remained intact. Perhaps because he had been quite handsome, he still gave off a striking impression even in old age.

Tears streamed from Yeon Jonghwi's eyes as he spoke.

"My lord. Over fifty years... it was so long... During that time, I faithfully carried out all my duties."

"Duties? What do you mean?"

"In the past, I received orders from Lord Zhuge. Those orders were to track down traces of the World's Top Ten Masters."

What?!

It was news to me. I whipped around to Zhuge Sa, who spoke as if it were obvious.

"Back then, Yeon Jonghwi was tricky to use as direct combat force, but we couldn't just let him idle either. So we turned his obscurity to our advantage and deployed him as a spy gathering intel from the martial world. As a bonus, I tasked him with digging up info on the World's Top Ten Masters."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"If you knew about Yeon Jonghwi's spying, you'd just worry needlessly. If he got in danger, you'd rush in barefoot to save him. Given your personality, it'd only hinder a spy, so I kept it to myself."

"......"

"Yeon Jonghwi was exceptionally skilled. The quality and quantity of intel a spy can gather depends on their martial prowess, and he flawlessly completed nearly every mission over fifty years. There was no better spy in the world."

At Zhuge Sa's words, Yeon Jonghwi wiped his tears and replied.

"I am grateful for the praise."

So that's how it was.

I nodded, grasping the situation, and questioned Yeon Jonghwi.

"What do you mean by intel on the World's Top Ten Masters?"

"It refers to... the World's Top Ten Masters from when you lived your 'first life,' my lord."

"Hmm."

"Lord Zhuge predicted that no matter how history unfolded, anyone worthy of a Top Ten spot would eventually reveal themselves. But to prepare for the contrary, he ordered me to collect all martial world intel while hunting for their clues. So for fifty years, I used every means to uncover information about them."

"......!!"

Yeon Jonghwi glanced at Zhuge Sa, who gave a slight nod of permission, and then he spoke.

"I mainly gathered info on Fist Saint, Heavenly Demon, and Poison King. You roughly knew the identities or names of the other seven, my lord, but knew nothing beyond their titles for these three."

"I see."

"In the end, I succeeded in learning their names and origins to some extent."

"Really?!"

This was a massive achievement!

As I grew inwardly excited, Yeon Jonghwi continued.

"Fist Saint was a man named Yi Hon from Goryeo."

"From the Twelve Rites, by any chance?"

"No. He seems to have reached the pinnacle of fist arts through self-study, and his current whereabouts are unknown. His skill was definitely superior to mine. Uncertain if he's at the Absolute Realm."

"Hmm."

I nodded thoughtfully. This was intel I had to commit to memory.

"The man called Heavenly Demon is believed to be fighting the Nine Church alone."

"Alone?"

Bewildered, I asked again, and Yeon Jonghwi explained.

"For some reason, the Nine Church's sorcery and spells have no effect on Heavenly Demon. Moreover, reports say his power grows stronger each time he kills a Nine Church member. He even devoured an Archbishop whole and routed them."

"Devoured?"

"Rumors say no type of demon works on him."

"What kind of person is he?"

"I investigated his identity, but all I confirmed was his surname—Gongsun."

"......"

"His skill... is definitely Absolute Realm. I saw him from afar, but he was enormously powerful."

Heavenly Demon.

The more I heard, the more enigmatic he seemed. Maybe I should uncover his identity later?

"Finally, Poison King Tang San. He's in his mid-to-late fifties now, but a fearsome master. Like Heavenly Demon, he operates alone, so his current movements are uncertain..."

Mid-to-late fifties meant he was a child or newborn around my past life's time?

Yeon Jonghwi hesitated briefly before continuing.

"He is the greatest genius in Sichuan Tang Clan history. He perfected the legendary Tang Clan secret art Rain of a Thousand Flowers and wields Formless Poison freely, earning the title Poison King. Poison King Tang San once slaughtered 10,000 Nine Church zealots in Sichuan with Formless Poison."

"Huh...?!!"

The outrageous feat left me stunned.

10,000 Nine Church zealots!

Fanatics who disregarded life and death—handling even that many would strain a regular army several times larger. Having experienced their power firsthand, I couldn't help but be shocked by the numbers.

"And Formless Poison..."

In the past, while visiting Tang Muguk, the Tang Clan head, to pry info on Dongbang Mukool, I'd heard about Formless Poison.

[Ordinary poisons won't work. Curse poisons differ from others—they lack material carriers or pathogenous power—but Poison King Tang San, a future Top Ten Master, had surpassed that limit.

[Formless Poison! Theoretically, the strongest poison.]

[It only exists in theory. Not even our Sichuan Tang Clan, nor the Myriad Poisons Sect or Soul-Forgetting Valley, has ever produced it historically. We just pursue it as the ultimate realm.]

[The principle of Formless Poison lies in freely dismantling the most fundamental links in all things. Naturally, material poisons can be countered by other materials. But a poison that exists without material? No antidote or defense can be made against it, by any means.]

[Heh. That's why cultivating poison arts feels like dreaming. Like ordinary martial artists pursuing the pinnacle of their arts.]

......

According to Tang Muguk, no one in history had achieved Formless Poison. Because it transcends physical links as a 'concept' itself, it's virtually invincible in essence. An impossibility for human beings—but Poison King Tang San, a future Top Ten Master, had surpassed that limit.

Afterward, I heard from Yeon Jonghwi about the other Top Ten Masters. They matched what I knew, and of the Three Great Righteous Elders, all but Divine Victory had perished. Ghost Immortal was one of the Eight Divine Beings, and Mount Tai Old Man was Zhuge Yulong, so that made sense.

After pondering, I said.

"I must meet Heavenly Demon and Poison King."

"Heh. If you'd shown up seven nights earlier, I'd have suggested the same."

Zhuge Sa suddenly burst into laughter.

"But with less than two days until the Nine Church Lord's Evil God Descent Ritual, where's the time?"

"Damn it..."

As I scowled, Jin So-cheong, who had been listening, spoke up.

"Anyone else, maybe not, but I can summon Poison King Tang San."

"Hm?!"

"In the past, fighting the Nine Church, I once did him a favor. Using the mark, I can bring him here in half a day."

"Hmm... worth a shot."

Paht!

I immediately took Jin So-cheong and teleported near Sichuan Province, then swiftly moved via lightness skill to the location he mentioned. Upon arriving in the secluded mountains, Jin So-cheong carved a mark-like symbol on a massive tree. About two hours later, when we returned, someone stood beneath it.

The young man under the tree smiled crookedly at us.

"Divine Spear Jin So-cheong seeking me out? Quite the event. Even a Fighting God like you needs help sometimes?"

Jin So-cheong stepped forward and said to him.

"Poison King. Guangdong Province has fallen to the Nine Church Lord."

......

"The Nine Church Lord will perform the Evil God Descent Ritual in Luoyang, and humanity is finished. Help me."

"Does that mean even you lost to the Nine Church Lord?"

Jin So-cheong nodded faintly, and Poison King Tang San shrugged.

"Then I quit. If you can't beat the monster, how could I?"

"He's defenseless during the ritual. What we need to break through are the Nine Church Archbishops."

"Hahaha! That's not entirely impossible... but still impossible."

"With your power, we can make it."

......

Poison King Tang San seemed to think long and hard. Then he said.

"Who's that ugly guy over there?"

He meant me, of course.

Jin So-cheong lightly answered.

"He's the one who greatly helped me reach this strength. With his aid, you might even reach my level."

"Pfft. Isn't that a bit too obvious a bait?"

"I don't lie."

"Hmm... Fine. Hey, introduce yourself properly."

As Poison King turned to me, I cupped my fists and said.

"I am Baek Woong."

"Fine. What's your connection to the Heaven-Defying Alliance or Divine Spear?"

"We pursue a single goal together."

I inwardly thought Poison King Tang San seemed obnoxious but recognized the value in this encounter. So I pulled out the black obsidian from my bosom and offered it.

"Take this, and you'll understand its meaning."

"Sorry, pass."

Tang San smirked and waved it off.

"With the Nine Church around and sorcery everywhere, you think I'd take something suspicious?"

"Hmm..."

It was then.

Pabat!

Urk.

In an instant, Jin So-cheong lunged and attacked Tang San, who hastily countered. Seeing the Tang Clan's signature technique, Thought-Severing Absolute Art, unfold rapidly from Tang San's hand, I realized he too was an Absolute Realm master.

Yet, rendering the Absolute Realm meaningless, Jin So-cheong swiftly subdued him. After just fifteen exchanges, Tang San's acupoints were sealed, forcing him to his knees on the spot.

Thud.

"Damn it! What the hell?"

Tang San bellowed, but Jin So-cheong silently took the black obsidian from my hand and placed it in his. He then looked at me and said.

"Baek Woong. Transmit the memories."

......

For such a young man, Tang San was incredibly skilled, yet subdued in a flash! I couldn't fathom Jin So-cheong's realm fifty years from now. As I transmitted the memories, Tang San shuddered and stared at me in bewilderment.

"Wha... reincarnation... such a thing in the world..."

"Sorry for forcing the story on you. But time is critical, and you must help me."

I continued.

"Tell me about that Formless Poison."

"Heh..."

Tang San let out a deep laugh. After much thought, he said.

"Fine. If you're saving humanity, borrowing my power isn't bad. And as a reincarnator, refusing is pointless anyway. But teaching Formless Poison comes with conditions."

"What conditions?"

"Take in my younger self and teach him the Seven Great Absolute Arts and Eight Immortal Divine Arts. And..."

The next condition left me dumbfounded.

"Painfully kill One-Handed Rakshasa Tang Muguk, his wife, and her children. And all the Tang Clan masters in the inner quarters. That's the deal."

......

One-Handed Rakshasa Tang Muguk was the previous Tang Clan head and, in my past life timeline, a supreme expert shaking the world as one of the Five Great Families' heads. No grudge with him, yet suddenly an assassination order?

Killing the inner quarters masters was tantamount to destroying the Sichuan Tang Clan!

Dumbfounded by the absurd demand, Tang San said.

"Don't like it? Whatever. Even without you, I'll do it myself around my twenties."

At his words, nearby Yeon Jonghwi gasped.

"No way... Thirty years ago, when the Sichuan Tang Clan masters all died mysteriously..."

"Yeah. That was me. I cut off every last one of those Sichuan Tang bastards."

......

To think the Tang Clan's top genius, dubbed Poison King, harbored such bitter hatred for his own blood kin?

As I stood stunned, Zhuge Sa casually said from the side.

"Baek Woong. Just grant his request."

"What?!"

"What's the big deal about wiping out the Sichuan Tang Clan? It's nothing compared to Formless Poison. Do it. Not the time to nitpick."

Was this right?

But I realized obtaining Formless Poison's power was crucial now. An absolute poison that erases 'concepts' itself would prove invaluable ahead. With no choice, I nodded.

"Understood."

"Heh... Good."

Moments later, with Jin So-cheong releasing the seal, Tang San explained the Formless Poison's information and intricacies. I memorized it alongside the others for about an hour. Once finished, Tang San said.

"Like it or not, that's the last part? Then let's go."

Seeing how quickly he accepted the situation, I knew he was no ordinary man. Blood feud or not, here was a supreme expert destined to dominate the future martial world. I thought to myself.

'I can't just slaughter them on his word.'

I'd need to investigate Tang Muguk and the Sichuan Tang Clan later.

"Ah, right."

Before the major operation, I decided to visit the Prophet first.

Paht!

"He's gone..."

Had the Prophet moved bases too?

The original Astana was empty, swept only by snow winds.

Soon after returning from Astana, we all used return talismans to move near Luoyang.

Paht!

"Ugh."

Upon arriving in a village near Luoyang, an intense surge of evil qi hit me, filling me with visceral disgust. Sticky blood shadows rose everywhere, like stepping into a demon beast's lair. Unidentifiable human-like things slithered about, and plant-like demon beasts grew alive from the ground.

It felt like plunging into the Red Sea of Aokigahara's undersides demon place. This had become a demonic domain. No living humans in sight, only mad silence permeating everywhere.

"This should evade the Archbishops' detection."

Muttering that, Zhuge Sa said.

"Baek Woong. Use Heavenly Vision to scout inside Luoyang."

"Got it."

Suuuu--

I activated Heavenly Vision to observe the interior. Six powerful auras drifted about, and at Luoyang's center stood a massive altar like the one the White Lotus Lord once built. At its peak, immortals were skewered like spits, stuck everywhere in a gruesome scene. Some female immortals were even being violated.

Below the altar, demon beasts roared or devoured humans, while others bound by tentacles birthed egg-like things. Horrific sights that could shatter the mind just by watching.

But before the atrocities, what caught my eye first was the entity atop the altar.

Cloaked in black robes—but undoubtedly, its power was the strongest. Perhaps surpassing all Archbishops combined? Far stronger than Fighting Immortal, it was clearly beyond ordinary apostles or demon kings.

"That's the Nine Church Lord."

The closest to a god among mortals, perhaps?

Immense chaotic energy poured out, blurring whether it was human or divine. Feeling my eyes strain, I stopped the Heavenly Vision.

And I said.

"He's deeply focused on something. He's in the midst of the ritual, it seems."

"Good. Time to attack."

Zhuge Sa ordered me.

"Baek Woong. Now's the time to use the Tower of the Boundless's power."

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