Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I headed to where the Great Sage Equaling Heaven was with Seo Mun-hye. Zhuge Sa and Mang Ryang were outstanding schemers, but they lacked the strength to join the battle ahead, so it was decided that just the two of us would go. Dang San had yet to recover from his injuries, so he stayed at the base. The Great Sage had said he would wait at Mount Tai, again, so we arrived at Mount Tai's Heavenly Altar.

A short while later, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven appeared at Mount Tai's Heavenly Altar. He eyed me sullenly and spoke.

"It doesn't look like you've prepared much."

"I've done what I can."

I had spent a full day preparing every scheme with Zhuge Sa and Mang Ryang.

In truth, I had wanted to go with Gonggong when he retrieved the Earth Spirit from Dark Heaven Village, but Gonggong had clearly drawn a line between us. It was obvious he didn't want the hassle of bringing me along to breach Dark Heaven Village. If I'd had more time, I could have sweet-talked Gonggong into revealing the path to the Earth Spirit, but that hadn't panned out, which was a shame.

'Too tight on time... this life...'

I shook off the negative thought and gritted my teeth. This wasn't the time for complaints; I had to focus on the present.

"Can you tell me more about Tripitaka?"

"Huh?"

"Well... if possible, I'd like to hear about your past, Great Sage. How you went from Demon King to Great Immortal."

"Sigh... Why do you want to know that crap?"

The Great Sage frowned, looking uncomfortable.

"Sorry, but I don't have the hobby of spilling my life story in detail to some guy I'm not that close to. Honestly, I don't like you that much either."

"Urk..."

The Great Sage seemed sociable, but he was pickier about people than I'd thought. After a moment of stone-faced seriousness, he smirked.

"...Well, it's not bad that you're interested in me. Fine, I'll give you the short version."

"Please do."

"In the past, I once turned the Heavenly Realm upside down. Not to brag, but I was an incredibly powerful demon... no, an unparalleled Demon King. Even after ascending to the heavens, almost none could match me."

With that, the Great Sage slung his Compliant Rod over his shoulder.

"But then some mysterious bastard suddenly barged into the Heavenly Realm and subdued me. I wouldn't even bow to the Jade Emperor at my peak."

"Mysterious bastard?"

"......"

The Great Sage fell silent, clearly meilling to talk about it. Then he continued.

"Anyway, long story short, I ended up traveling far to Tianzhu with a monk from the Tang Dynasty to fetch scriptures from the Western Paradise. It was penance for my crimes against the heavens. That monk was Tripitaka."

"I heard that Tripitaka was one of the Eight Legions. Do you know which one?"

The Great Sage said.

"He called himself a Heavenly Person, the oldest among the Eight Legions. And his power was no joke, so I had a pretty fun journey with him."

"Heavenly Person..."

Heavenly Person Tripitaka.

I committed the title to memory. The Great Sage continued.

"When we reached Tianzhu, I heard a lot of stories from him. I brought the scriptures back to the heavens and was freed from my duties, but instead of descending to rule as Demon King again, I decided to keep serving as a Combat Immortal in the Heavenly Realm."

"Why?"

He grinned mischievously.

"Why do you think?"

"Then what were the scriptures?"

"Guess. You're full of questions."

Teasing me with a chuckle, the Great Sage then said firmly.

"That's the end of the past talk! Let's go."

"...Yes."

He'd seemed to share a lot, but in the end, nothing crucial. He'd only elaborated a bit on Tripitaka. It was proof that while the Great Sage had tentatively accepted me as a comrade, he didn't fully trust me.

'But that's enough.'

If one of the Eight Legions was Tripitaka, he'd surely appear in Tang Dynasty records. Digging into those would reveal the Heavenly Person's powers, abilities, and secrets.

When we arrived at White Mausoleum Mountain, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman was waiting. As soon as we reached White Mausoleum Mountain, Yeo Dongbin and the Fire Dragon Divine Sword shifted forms to manifest as humans, instantly turning the area into a gathering of great immortals. The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman asked me.

"Are preparations complete?"

"Yes."

"Then let's depart. We must destroy Pangu's spell."

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman briefly outlined the plan.

"I'll handle Yeon-deung Do-in's Thirty-Three Thousand Brilliant Pagodas. You all take care of Un-jung-ja's Fire Dragon Divine Transformation Pearls."

"Once we break through that, I'll fight the Combat Immortals."

The Great Sage said calmly.

"Of course, even I can't easily beat a horde of Combat Immortals. So during that time, you all need to decisively shatter the formation, or create an opening for me to break the encirclement and strike the Queen Mother."

So that's the plan. I now clearly understood our role in what the Great Sage demanded.

'That's why he needed Jin So-cheong.'

Fulfilling the Great Sage's demands required at least Combat Immortal-level prowess. Creating an opening sounded simple, but piercing the Heavenly Immortals' tight formation? Tension gripped me instinctively.

Fire Dragon True Man said.

"Then let's go."

Rustle.

We all boarded the massively expanded Muscle Dou Cloud, and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman scattered mystical mist to conceal us. As we flew through the Heavenly Realm's skies from White Mausoleum Mountain, we spotted some immortals and spirit beasts, but none detected us.

How far had the Muscle Dou Cloud traveled—three hundred li, perhaps? After a long flight, we spotted a colossal mountain on the horizon where terrifying energy boiled, thunder and lightning raged, and storms swirled. Such a ferocious atmosphere was rare, and as I marveled inwardly, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman spoke.

"That's the Heavenly Realm's Kunlun Mountain. The ritual is underway in the Queen Mother's palace."

The Heavenly Kunlun Mountain differed vastly from its earthly counterpart. Taller and more majestic than any mortal peak, it seemed impossibly high. With thunderstorms engulfing the entire mountain, no sane person would attempt to climb it.

The Great Sage piloted the Muscle Dou Cloud past the base and swiftly up to the mid-slopes. But after piercing a couple cloud layers, he suddenly halted and dispersed the cloud.

Tap.

The Great Sage grimaced, looking annoyed.

"Some pest is here."

"What's wrong? Isn't the Thirty-Three Thousand Brilliant Pagodas here...?"

"No. We need to go another two hundred chang up."

Replying thus, the Great Sage added.

"Seems the Heavenly Realm's best archer uncle is sniping us."

"......"

I instantly knew who was targeting us upon hearing that.

"Hou Yi(?)"

The legendary divine archer Combat Immortal, also called Hou Yi! In ancient times, he shot down nine of Emperor Zhuanxu's ten suns, and he was the husband of Moon Palace Chang'e. Moreover, I'd been killed by Hou Yi twice in past lives, so I could never forget him.

If the Heavenly Realm's greatest archer, one even the Great Sage warily acknowledged, it could only be Hou Yi!

The Great Sage said.

"While I was away briefly, the Queen Mother reinforced the guards."

"Can't you take him down?"

"I could, but if that uncle slips away and harasses us, it'll be a huge pain. Even I can't catch him quickly if he plays for time."

"...Hmm."

In a pure contest of force, the Great Sage would win. But as an archer specializing in range, not close combat, Hou Yi could kite and harass, making him tough even for the Great Sage. Finally, with no choice, the Great Sage bellowed.

"Hou Yi, uncle! Come out for a chat!"

Swoosh.

Moments later, a chariot floated in the air, revealing Hou Yi nocking an arrow on his massive bow atop it. Hou Yi eyed the Great Sage coldly and spoke.

"What is this? Why did you break formation on your own and bring the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman and other immortals? The Queen Mother gave no such order."

"Why do you think? Obviously to smash that beggar Pangu's spell."

"Hmph, as expected."

Hou Yi snorted knowingly and continued.

"Combat Immortal Victory Buddha, Great Sage Equal to Heaven. I always suspected you had ulterior motives despite submitting to the heavens. So you reveal your true colors today."

"It's not just my will, uncle. Don't you know why the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman rebelled against the Queen Mother?"

At that, Hou Yi glanced at her. Meeting his gaze, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman said calmly.

"Hou Yi. The Queen Mother is heaven's greatest traitor, the one who erased the Three Pure Ones. She also stands accused of devouring innocent immortals. I stake my honor that this is true."

"......"

"Step aside. We come to restore justice to the Heavenly Realm."

Hou Yi replied after a pause.

"I know!"

"...?"

"I've known since I went to her palace seeking the elixir of immortality in ancient times. Yet I still serve the Queen Mother."

What was this?

We all stared at Hou Yi in shock. Grimacing, he turned his head and continued.

"The Queen Mother promised to return Chang'e to me once all is done. I can't just let you pass."

"Your wife, imprisoned on the moon... Moon Palace Chang'e?"

"Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman, I know you're just. Perhaps following you would save both heaven and earth."

Whoooong.

Immense energy gathered in Hou Yi's bow. He roared fiercely.

"But... my wife is more precious to me!!"

Boom!

The next instant, his arrow shot forth with terrifying momentum.

"You damn uncle!!"

The Great Sage swatted the arrow with his Compliant Rod and charged. Like a game of tag, the Great Sage's form and Hou Yi's chariot zipped like beams of light at insane speeds. Hou Yi laughed heartily.

[Come on, Great Sage Equal to Heaven!! I've long wanted to settle things with you.]

The Great Sage snapped back irritably.

[That eager to get beat? I showed respect for your age, and you get cocky!]

Soon, they clashed in the skies near Kunlun Mountain at terrifying speeds.

Kaboom!

In an instant, the western skies over Kunlun blazed with explosions. The sight of burning heavens reminded me of the old clash between the Cult Leader and Yeo Dongbin. Watching their battle, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman sighed.

"This is bad. Both are top Combat Immortals of the Heavenly Realm... It won't end quickly."

"Shouldn't we help?"

"...No. We must press on first. No time. Yeon-deung Do-in's Thirty-Three Thousand Brilliant Pagodas aren't easy."

Flash!

Soon, we followed the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman's teleportation to Kunlun's upper reaches. There, dozens of overlapping rainbow circles formed a barrier, surrounded by scores of blue pagodas floating with soft glows.

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