Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden!

Among all the Great Lao Immortals of the Heavenly Realm, she stood unparalleled, nearly at the pinnacle. I had once laid eyes on the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden in my past life. She had appeared in a form of transcendent beauty that inspired awe, a master of the Sea of Time Arts and the former teacher of Zhixian Mangguang.

I also recalled that she served as the right hand of the Queen Mother of the West, yet she was constantly tormented and puzzled by the Queen Mother's true intentions. She had tasked her disciple and subordinates with probing the Queen Mother's true intentions, but most were assassinated by mysterious entities. That was why Zhixian Mangguang, possessing reincarnation abilities like me, had passed on his memories and experiences, hoping I would uncover the Queen Mother's truth and the Heavenly Realm's hidden machinations.

As I recalled what I knew of the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden from my past life, Fire Dragon True Person continued.

[The Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden currently oversees the immortals who have ascended through the Ascension Gate and trains them in sorcery as the Great Lao Immortal Overseer. But in ancient times, she was a War God who fought the Giant Race directly. She is one of the most proficient in combat sorcery in the Heavenly Realm and the world's greatest master of military strategy.]

"Hmm... That's right."

Zhixian Mangguang had studied directly under her, so he had learned much of her sorcery. The Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden knew sorceries so vast and powerful that human sorcerers couldn't even imagine them—totaling a staggering 369,000 variants. Most human sorcerers died without mastering even twenty, proving she transcended humanity from the start.

[I don't know what the Immortal Sword Art is exactly, but I can sense its origin linked karmically to the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden. It must be a sorcery she created.]

"Can you tell me more about what the Immortal Sword Art is?"

[...Not in detail. But if I had to guess her intent, it seems she wanted to sever Yeo Dongbin's ties to the Heavenly Realm while preserving his combat prowess. Becoming an Immortal Sword carries that meaning.]

"Sever ties to the Heavenly Realm? Then the current Yeo Dongbin..."

Fire Dragon True Person gazed at the Immortal Sword with somewhat sad eyes.

[She has lost her Great Lao Immortal nature and become the sword itself. No longer affiliated with the Heavenly Realm, she is merely an Immortal Sword. In this view, case her as nothing more than a sword possessing Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin's abilities.]

"......"

[I wouldn't know for sure. As a Great Lao Immortal, Yeo Dongbin was immensely powerful, so I can't fathom why she'd need this roundabout method to cut ties with the Heavenly Realm... It's far riskier than beneficial for her. Of course, you, her fated partner, stand to gain much from the Immortal Sword's aid.]

"That's..."

What scheme had Yeo Dongbin and the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden devised?

And why resort to this expedient like the Immortal Sword Art?

A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in my mind, but this was too complex and profound for me to resolve alone. Without consulting my strategists and gathering evidence for deduction, I could do nothing. It wouldn't be solved anytime soon. I cleared my mind neatly and said to Fire Dragon True Person.

"...Zhurong's flames carry chaotic properties. Are you sure it's safe to absorb them?"

[Heh. Worried for me because I'm Yeo Dongbin's fated partner?]

Fire Dragon True Person looked at me with eyes that seemed approving somehow before replying.

[It's fine. Chaotic properties pose no threat to me. It just feels like I've eaten a bit.]

"No threat at all?"

[I am the incarnation of the primordial great being, Yinglong. Yinglong survived ancient times by devouring the chaos filling the four directions, and that nature passes to me, its incarnation.]

"I see. Have you fully recovered your strength?"

[Over eighty percent restored. I'll be complete again soon.]

Given how swiftly Fire Dragon True Person was recovering, it meant Zhurong's flames had been a curse of immense potency.

A sudden thought struck me, and I asked.

"I know you are Yinglong's incarnation, but your will is separate from the original body..."

[Correct.]

His firm affirmation suggested it was typical for incarnations. For instance, the Eight Legions Divine Generals, incarnation of Cangjie, also possessed individual wills distinct from Cangjie's main body.

"Then you don't know Yinglong's will or the current situation?"

Fire Dragon True Person replied lightly to my question.

[The original body, Yinglong, shares information and advice whenever it wills. If it doesn't, I know nothing.]

"......"

[Yinglong currently has no interest in the mortal world. Even the Emperor's Pantheon of Myriad Gods remains silent, it says.]

"No information at all?"

[If I had to sense its will... Hmm... It wonders if the primordial 'pact' witnessed by Cangjie, forged by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, will hold to the end.]

"Pact?"

[It doesn't say what it is.]

A pact of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?

What did that mean?

How did it relate to this situation?

As I stood puzzled, Fire Dragon True Person spoke.

[Yinglong is regarded as the Emperor's right hand, equal to the Five Emperors. It's futile for us to gauge its will, so best not to delve too deeply.]

"...Understood."

Fire Dragon True Person was right. Even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, excluding the Emperor, didn't know the Pantheon of Myriad Gods' location or how to enter. Yinglong, residing there and serving as the Emperor's right hand, was an incomprehensibly exalted being. Speculating on its will now was pointless.

I recalled Yeo Dongbin's final words.

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

[With the entire Heavenly Realm branding me humanity's betrayer, how could one Fire Dragon True Person help?]

[First, awaken Master and explain the situation—he'll tell you what to do.]

The Heavenly Altar had already descended. So what had she intended by awakening Fire Dragon True Person? It remained a mystery now. And for some reason, Yeo Dongbin believed that awakening him would provide a breakthrough, even with the entire Heavenly Realm as enemies.

Did Fire Dragon True Person hold some other key?

"Fire Dragon True Person. Actually..."

I went beyond the brief explanation from before, detailing how I'd been imprisoned by Cangjie for fifty years and how Yeo Dongbin had taught me the Immortal Sword Art while asking for his aid. Fire Dragon True Person sighed and said:

[You should have mentioned that sooner... How could I deduce the situation from just you saying Yeo Dongbin turned into an Immortal Sword without context?]

"My apologies."

I'd been wary because he was Yinglong's incarnation, probing cautiously. Now Fire Dragon True Person spoke in a tone of realization.

[I see what happened. The Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden clearly hoped you'd come to her wielding Yeo Dongbin's Immortal Sword.]

"You mean I should seek her out?"

[Almost no one could discern that Yeo Dongbin's Immortal Sword Art wasn't her own creation but read its karmic ties to identify it as the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden's sorcery. She wanted me to read her intent.]

Fire Dragon True Person pondered before adding.

[Then Yeo Dongbin must have been under surveillance, unable to speak or act freely. That's why she couldn't confide everything in you.]

"Surveillance?"

[I don't know the details, but surveilling Eight Immortals Yeo Dongbin would require at least Three Sovereigns or equivalents casting sorcery. To escape that pressure and scrutiny, she borrowed the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden's aid to become an Immortal Sword.]

"Who could that be?"

[To find out, you'd have to seek the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden.]

"Hmm."

Wasn't it too late?

Yeo Dongbin likely wanted me to awaken Fire Dragon True Person before the Heavenly Altar descended, follow the clues to find the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden, and avert ruin. But the Heavenly Altar had descended ages ago, the world was half-destroyed, and the Heavenly Realm had been shattered by the Nüwa Cult. Going to her now might be meaningless.

I felt things growing ever more convoluted, but I shook my head and said.

"Understood. I'll find the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden somehow."

[I will aid you to the best of my ability as well.]

No helping it, even if tangled.

Without uncovering Yeo Dongbin's clue, we'd repeat the same mistakes. Action first, then see. My mouth felt parched from the mounting difficulties, but I endured with willpower.

"By the way, do you have any guess where Gonggong went, suddenly taking Huanyao?"

[Gonggong went to pay respects to his king. He has only one.]

"That's..."

Fire Dragon True Person crossed his arms, gazing beyond the sky.

[Among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Sovereign Flame Emperor Shennong. He is an ancient great being who clashed directly with Emperor Gongsun Xuanyuan and is king of the Giant Race.]

Flame Emperor Shennong!

I recalled past information on Flame Emperor Shennong.

[Further south from the Southern Man Yue Kingdom lies an archipelago of southern island nations, and beyond that, the great ocean... Travel thousands more li south, and you'll reach the legendary continent where Shennong was exiled after losing to the Emperor.]

[Because of Flame Emperor Shennong's faction. Ever since the first clash between Emperor and Flame Emperor at Banquan, two massive forces have continually collided through the Mythic Age. Gonggong, Flame Emperor's descendant, waged war again with Zhuanku, causing vast destruction, until Chiyou reached the peak.]

[As I know it, the humanity now spread across the world is the Three Sovereigns' handiwork. Nüwa, Shennong, and Fuxi are said to have joined forces. Regardless of Pangu's role, the original humans were created by the otherworldy [Ancient Ones], and the Three Sovereigns created a barrier using humans as a prototype. Whether Pangu truly existed, even I don't know.]

[You're imprisoned anyway, aren't you? Your opinion matters little now. Go if you wish, Flame Emperor.]

The Three Sovereign and Giant Race King, Flame Emperor Shennong, had been repeatedly imprisoned on the southern continent after defeat at Banquan. He was also one of humanity's creators and, as Giant Race leader, had long opposed the gods.

His power was unknown, but inferring from Emperor Gongsun Xuanyuan's overwhelming superiority over other Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Flame Emperor Shennong must be a transcendent being akin to the [Ancient Rulers]. I gazed beyond the sky and said.

"Then Gonggong means to free the imprisoned Flame Emperor Shennong?"

[Most likely. Probably using Huanyao's power to break the seal.]

"Isn't that dangerous?"

[...Well... I doubt it will work.]

Fire Dragon True Person trailed off.

This... was a huge problem!

Urgency gripped me—I had to do something. I nearly used Farsight to locate Gonggong but hesitated.

[Haste makes waste?]

Was I letting emotions rush me? Gonggong attempting to break Flame Emperor's seal was grave, but charging in planless? Better to organize thoughts first since it was critical.

I led everything, but now wasn't the time.

[Consult the strategists first.]

Flash!

I teleported straight to Tata Kingdom, handing the obsidian to Mangyang and Zhuge Sa. I quickly explained the situation, and Mangyang said.

"Baek Woong, well done. A very cool-headed judgment. Chasing Gonggong directly would have been a blunder."

"What should I do now?"

"I doubt Gonggong would break his own promise. And he wouldn't welcome you discovering his sovereign's imprisonment site or base. No need to rashly provoke, stay put, and he'll return Huanyao to you."

Mangyang continued.

"The key is then. Don't let him catch you probing behind his back—boldly request cooperation. Offer maximum aid in breaking Flame Emperor's seal. In my view, that's how to build a proper alliance with Gonggong."

"...Mangyang."

"Yes?"

"You seem to assume Flame Emperor's seal won't break. Any reason for such certainty?"

"Hmm, well..."

As Mangyang began explaining, Zhuge Sa interjected scowlingly.

"Even without Mangyang, anyone could see it."

"Why?"

"Fire Dragon True Person said it won't work, didn't he? Who among us knows more about divinities and seals than him?"

"......"

"To seal a Sovereign like Flame Emperor requires an equal or superior being—only the other Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. It's obvious a single luminairy can't break a barrier they personally set."

"Ah, right..."

Zhuge Sa was spot on. If I'd acted impulsively, I'd have needlessly antagonized Gonggong, sowing distrust and complicating matters. Zhuge Sa said.

"You're handling it well for you, so return to the seal site for now."

"Got it."

Flash.

Back at the seal site, after about an hour, a massive dot plummeted from the sky.

Boom!!

It was Gonggong. Having regained much of his Water God power, he exuded tremendous yin energy. His pale eyes gleaming, he tossed Huanyao to me.

[Take it.]

Leap.

I snatched Huanyao midair with Void Grasping, and it shrank from Giant Race size to one-hand human scale. I inwardly sighed in relief.

"You kept your promise."

[Naturally.]

"Where did you go just now?"

[To where my king resides...]

"Were you trying to break Flame Emperor Shennong's seal with Huanyao?"

[Yes.]

"Did Flame Emperor awaken?"

Gonggong replied coldly to my question.

[I suspected as much, and indeed it failed. As expected, that barrier requires dealing with 'her' first.]

"Her?"

[Nüwa particularly loathes my king and poured her power directly into that barrier. Breaking it without killing Nüwa will be difficult...]

Nüwa!

Hearing that confirmed the strategists' prediction. Sealing a Sovereign indeed required another Sovereign's power. Moreover, a barrier by the Earth Mother Goddess Nüwa, said to have created the Central Plains continent, would be infused with absurd divine might—no single luminary could shatter it.

[But my task is clear. My king has issued me orders.]

"Even imprisoned, Flame Emperor Shennong can communicate outward?"

[Yes. Even Nüwa can't fully contain him.]

"Hmm."

Gonggong raised his massive right arm and said to me.

[Baek Woong. You gather the luminaries from now on. You and I collect as many as possible, then offer them all at once as tribute to shatter the barrier and summon the Giant God King back to this world. Once the luminaries' power belongs to him, he can even defeat the Emperor.]

Have you lost your mind?!

Gather them just to hand power to someone else?

I swallowed curses but calmly replied.

"Gathering them is obvious, but how do you plan to do it?"

[I will fetch the Metal Luminary in the West. You secure the Moon or Wood Luminary in the East. Then head to Dark Heaven Village for the Earth Luminary.]

"...Good plan, but... getting the Earth Luminary might be tricky..."

[Kuhahaha!!]

Gonggong laughed meiacally.

[Just watch my power.]

Rumble.

With that, Gonggong vanished skyward again. I stared at the distant sky where he'd disappeared, thinking.

[Fetching the West's Metal Luminary alone?]

Could he?

The West's Metal Luminary was coveted by the Black Brotherhood, the West's strongest cult, guarded by a sacerdotal protector. Its sorcerers were all grand magi, including Peng Zhao, Zhuanxu a descendant and Great Lao Immortal level or higher. With such formidable foes, I'd never even considered going for it.

Even if Gonggong had grown stronger, could he claim it solo?

I shook my head and used Return to head to base.

[Worry about myself first.]

For Wood Luminary, visit the Twelve Laws.

For Moon Luminary...

[Time to prepare for Mount Tai.]

Live or die, I had to honor Jin Su-cheong's will and meet the Grand Celestial of Heaven.

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