Reincarnated Swordmaster

Translator: Aee

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Returning to the real world alongside Seo Mun-hye, Seo Mun-hye spoke up with concern.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman..."

"She went on ahead."

With two barriers now broken, what remained was the defensive line formed by the Fighting Immortals and Great Lao Immortals working together. It wasn't covered by any specific barrier, but since it was held by some of the most renowned and powerful immortals, it was clearly no pushover. The fact that the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman had gone first suggested she was preparing to receive the Great Sage Equaling Heaven in advance.

I gazed steadily at Seo Mun-hye and said.

"...Are you really alright with this?"

"I'm probably going to die here today. It's a battle with almost no chance of victory, yet I dragged you along because your power is indispensable to our forces. I'm basically brought you to your death... I'm sorry."

Seo Mun-hye smiled faintly.

"I came because I wanted to. To atone for the sins I accumulated as the leader of the Nine Yin Cult. I've already let go of any attachment to my life, and even if you told me to go back, I wouldn't."

"Seo Mun-hye..."

"There's just one thing I'd like to ask."

Her delicate jade hand gently caressed my cheek.

"Baek Woong, don't blame yourself."

...

"And don't push yourself too hard."

Her words nearly brought tears flooding from my eyes in an instant.

Every time hardship struck throughout my lives, those were the exact words I'd longed to hear.

Whenever I stumbled due to a lack of talent or wisdom, everything felt like my fault.

But I couldn't afford to whine. If this world was a meticulously crafted nightmare, only I—with my infinite reincarnation ability—could break free of it, and the tragedies of those sacrificed to the gods felt like they were somehow my doing. My comrades had offered me words of encouragement before, but for some reason, a single phrase from Seo Mun-hye brought me greater comfort than any.

I steadied my emotions, my voice trembling slightly.

"...Thank you. Then let's go."

Flash!

I dashed upward through the higher reaches of Kunlun Mountain with Seo Mun-hye. Since it was a place I'd never been before, I couldn't use the Non-Pole Omen Sword; I simply navigated the most sacred and majestic hidden realms of Kunlun, the noblest mountain in the Heavenly Realm. After ascending another four hundred-odd feet or so, we found the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman waiting there.

She stood atop a massive cliff, below which dozens of thatched huts dotted the landscape. The huts were arranged according to the Eight Trigrams, densely packed in a swirling circular pattern. At their center, 108 immortals clustered together, chanting an immense incantation.

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman said.

"This is the boundary. The moment we advance even a step further, the Fighting Immortals will attack."

"You're waiting for the Great Sage Equaling Heaven?"

She nodded and replied.

"I'm using the World-Hiding Technique to conceal our presence, but if we're too late, it'll be disastrous. All we can do is hope he arrives soon..."

"Hmm..."

I could sense her anxiety, but it was understandable. Without the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, we couldn't even begin, and his opponent was no pushover. It had been at least an incense burning's time since he'd started fighting Yu, so could he defeat him in time? Knowing Yu's reputation as one of the greatest heroes even in ancient myths, it was impossible to be certain.

That was when it happened.

Shrrrk.

"Damn it... I took down that old man, but we're screwed!"

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven appeared beside us on his cloud somersault, cursing under his breath. Spouting two large arrows embedded in his left palm with blood streaming down, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman said.

"You must have staked it all on the Red Bow White Arrows."

"That's right! Damn it... I handled the first seven somehow, but the last two were impossible. I barely blocked one straight to the heart. My body's diamond-hard, but those blasted arrows were too powerful..."

"What of Yu?"

"He took a direct hit from my Ruyi Jingu Bang, so he'll be knocked out at the base of Kunlun Mountain for about a thousand years."

"...!?"

I was stunned at the sight.

The Red Bow White Arrows are an incredibly powerful spell!

When he'd descended on me, it had only ever smacked the back of my head, so I hadn't fully grasped it, but in actual combat against a person, it was a supreme spell that even the Great Sage Equaling Heaven couldn't withstand. Moreover, surviving a hit from the Ruyi Jingu Bang without dissipating showed Yu's even prowess was at the Fighting Immortal level.

"That bastard... If only he'd fought me that hard when he descended on me..."

As I inwardly cursed, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman raised her hand and cast the World-Hiding Technique.

Whooooosh!

Moments later, the two white arrows in the Great Sage's palm glowed with a divine light and were pulled out. The lightning-like white arrows of pure spiritual energy shot upward like they were returning to their master and vanished somewhere. The Great Sage flexed his hand a few times and marveled.

"I had a hunch, and it worked. Normally, even I couldn't remove white arrows once they're embedded, but the World-Hiding Technique heals the wounds they inflict too... To think it can even dispel arrows that slew the sun—truly an astonishing spell."

"No other injuries?"

"None!"

With a hearty reply, the Great Sage activated his Fiery Golden Eyes.

Fwoosh!

His eyes blazed like flames as he scanned ahead intently. With the ability to pierce through the essence of all things, he seemed to be analyzing the defensive formation. He furrowed his brow and muttered.

"What's this? There's a new face I don't recognize mixed in..."

"A new face?"

"Nah, feels like I might've seen him somewhere..."

The Great Sage scratched his head and said.

"Ah, whatever! Let's start."

Boom!

Lightning crackled ahead as he charged forward without waiting. The instant he reached the hundred-odd meters mark, red light burst forth, and dozens of shadowy phantoms burst forth from nowhere, swarming him all at once.

Kwarung!

Amid deafening explosions, Fighting Immortals and Heavenly Generals who had leaped out swung hundreds of weapons at the Great Sage, roaring in fury.

[You bastard!]

[Traitor to the Heavens, Demon King of Filial Piety!]

[This time, you won't be forgiven!]

Puk-puk-puk.

As the encirclement unleashed a barrage of ferocious attacks, the Great Sage extended his Ruyi Jingu Bang rapidly and swiftly deflected them. With a casual sweep, five Heavenly Generals exploded into pieces.

[What!?]

As the encircling Heavenly Generals recoiled in shock, the Great Sage grinned.

"Nice mouths on you lot. Back when I was alone, you didn't even dare look up at me."

Whoosh.

"Go."

He plucked a hair from behind his ear and used his hair-clone technique, spawning hundreds of Great Sages that spread out to engage the Heavenly Generals and Fighting Immortals. The Heavenly Generals struggled even against the clones, but the Fighting Immortals were different.

"Heh heh! How could a being as magnificent as you rebel..."

One Fighting Immortal, clad in Wudang Taoist robes, sighed as he stepped forward and simultaneously faced ten of the Great Sage's clones.

"I, Jang Sam-bong, shall give my all today."

As the clones attacked in unison, it seemed impossible to evade, but in the next moment, it felt as if their attacks were being dragged along by an unseen current. The clones rebounded from their own power, tumbling back or reverting to hairs. The Fighting Immortal's hands gathered the principles of the world, as if tearing yin and yang asunder.

Puk-puk-pang.

The Great Sage's true body, arms crossed at the rear, smirked. Despite the formidable foes, he seemed to revel in the thrill of battle.

"Heh heh. Jang Sam-bong, huh? Long time no see."

As he said, the one who had revealed himself in the Fighting Immortals' defensive formation was none other than Fighting Immortal Jang Sam-bong!

The founding patriarch of Wudang Sect, who had ascended to become a Fighting Immortal, and in the late Ming era, the unparalleled supreme martial artist of the world. He was also the creator of the foundational Seven Ultimate Arts I was currently cultivating and possessed matchless supremacy in the Absolute Realm.

Swish swish.

"Orthodox One Bright Might!"

A colossal force unfurled in the air, visible through my Heavenly Eye. In the next instant, five attacking clones beside him shredded into phantoms. It seemed another Fighting Immortal had joined.

"Great Sage Equaling Heaven. Even you can't recklessly fight all us Fighting Immortals at once, can you?"

"Heavenly Master Jang Dao-ling."

The figure who appeared, shrouded in five-colored clouds and wielding enigmatic spells, had a rotund appearance but was clearly a Fighting Immortal the Great Sage remembered. And rightly so—Jang Dao-ling was the founding patriarch of the Five Pecks of Rice Tao and a towering figure in Taoism.

"Reckless? If not me, who else would even dream of it..."

"Exactly. Only the Great Sage could pull this off."

Swish.

Two more Fighting Immortals appeared beside Jang Dao-ling. They had strikingly contrasting appearances yet spoke almost in perfect unison.

The one on the left was an elderly man with completely white hair and beard, while the one on the right was a youthful man with jet-black hair. They spoke together.

"But I, the South Dipper Star Lord, say this is utterly absurd."

"But I, the North Dipper Star Lord, say the Great Sage will die here."

South Dipper Star Lord and North Dipper Star Lord!

I knew them as the heavenly deities governing lifespan, and they doubled as Fighting Immortals! Their looks and speech seemed comical, but as Fighting Immortals, their strength was beyond compare to someone like me.

Rumble.

"Pahahahaha! You really insane or what? Taking on all the Heavenly Fighting Immortals solo? You think that's possible? There, that's why I like you."

Amid blazing flames, someone appeared waving a massive silk banner. The Great Sage smirked at the boyish Fighting Immortal holding rings in both hands.

"You too, huh, Nata."

The one called Nata grinned ferociously, eyes gleaming with malice.

"I've suspected since you left your post in the formation. I've always wanted your head, monkey! Won't yield to anyone else."

"If you can take it. And tone down the racket with that Thunderclap."

"Got it!"

Swish swish.

Following the legendary Prince Nata, who as a child had slain dragons, a blue light silently rose beside him.

The blue light transformed into an extraordinarily handsome young man with a third eye on his forehead. Slowly raising his three-pronged spear forward, the youth addressed the Great Sage in a troubled tone.

"I've clashed with you before, so I know your power is immense. But you can't win against all of us."

The Great Sage replied nonchalantly.

"Erlang True Lord, don't hold back—come at me. I didn't come here for your pity."

"...Reckless fool!"

The Fighting Immortal called Erlang True Lord clicked his tongue and assumed a battle stance. He was underestimated as a top-tier Fighting Immortal, he began emanating an aura far surpassing even Absolute Realm masters of the human world. The same went for all the Fighting Immortals blocking the Great Sage.

...

From afar, seeing the lineup of Fighting Immortals who had appeared, I felt my breath catch.

'Earthly Taoists would faint at this sight...'

Each was a legendary figure in Taoist lore, and the South and North Dipper Star Lords were primordial deities. Individually weaker than the Great Sage perhaps, but united, even he would struggle.

Whoosh.

The Great Sage summoned hundreds more clones at once. But overwhelming such numbers of Fighting Immortals with clones alone wouldn't work. Perhaps that's why he sent me a sound transmission from afar.

[The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman will aid me with the World-Hiding Technique in battle. In the meantime, slip in and take out at least one of the 108 immortals forming the formation. That's our win.]

[Understood.]

[Wait for my signal.]

As the Great Sage and I exchanged words, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman teleported to the enemy, wielding two long swords. She engaged the Fighting Immortals and Heavenly Generals with sorrowful eyes and spoke.

"Comrades of the Heavens. It is the Queen Mother of the West who is the true traitor, devouring countless immortals. She even slew the Three of the Four Evils—why add a traitor?"

Murmurs.

Her words caused a momentary stir among the Fighting Immortals and Heavenly Generals. Jang Sam-bong in particular looked stunned and replied in bewilderment.

"Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman, what do you—"

That was when he was interrupted sharply, the South and North Dipper Star Lords cutting him off.

"Enough!"

"Enough!"

"The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman is the traitor! Don't be deceived—kill her!"

"Kill the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman! No mercy for traitors!"

Whoooong.

The encircling Heavenly Generals began emitting fierce red auras from their eyes. It seemed they'd cast a spell to read their reason in exchange for amplified strength and savagery. That made even the Heavenly Generals far from pushovers.

Whoooong.

The South and North Dipper Star Lords' resounding cries affected the Fighting Immortals too. Strange sonic waves spread outward, apparently dispelling any further desire for talk among them.

Only Jang Sam-bong remained visibly conflicted, clearly harboring strong doubts about the situation. Seeing this, I panicked inwardly.

'What the hell? Those guys!'

They'd seemed out of place among the Fighting Immortals—turns out they were the Queen Mother of the West's plants! Infiltrated to prevent the Fighting Immortals from being swayed by the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman. In the next moment, all the Fighting Immortals and Heavenly Generals charged at the Great Sage and Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman simultaneously.

"Kill the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman!"

"Kill the Great Sage Equaling Heaven!"

Thus began the clash between most of the Heavenly Realm's forces and just two opponents.

Rumble rumble.

Kwarung.

Indescribable barrages of treasures and spells filled the Kunlun summit. Most attacks came from the enemy, while the Great Sage used his clone technique to counter the Fighting Immortals' combined assault. I watched the epic battle with gripped fists, sweat pouring, when a sharp, massive cry pierced my mind.

[Now! Go!]

Tadak.

Receiving the Great Sage's signal, I transformed Ye Dongbin into a flying sword and shot forward. Though Ye Dongbin could descend on me, it would drain us both greatly, so we opted for flying sword arts to conserve power.

As I reached the edge of the Great Lao Immortals' encirclement and dove toward the rear, Prince Nata, locked in combat nearby, scoffed.

"Hahaha!! A mere human dares charge in?"

Treasure.

Heaven-Earth Ring.

Whirring.

In that instant, one of the Heaven-Earth Rings in Nata's hands flew at me. I'd faced plenty of martial artists hurling rings in the Jianghu, but this was incomparable. It hurtled with the terrifying force and speed of an Absolute Realm master, aiming to sever my neck in one strike.

Ye Dongbin's flying sword reacted, executing the Moon-Piercing Projection. Thanks to his senses, I blocked the ring slicing my throat and countered with my sword—but the horrific recoil felt like it snapped my wrist and forearm outright, sending me flying.

Thud.

Kugh!

Just blocking the ring left my arm numb and throbbing! Several finger joints seemed broken, and I gritted my teeth against the surging pain. But Nata retrieved his ring in astonishment.

"What!? A human blocked my Heaven-Earth Ring?"

Then, Ye Dongbin in sword form transmitted his will to me.

'[My friend! Nata isn't quite Great Sage or Erlang level, but he's a top Fighting Immortal. Don't clash head-on—dodge and infiltrate.]'

"[Damn it... Easier said than done...]"

Grumbling at the Great Sage's earlier words, I gripped my sword tightly. My inner energy was rapidly healing the injury, but direct combat with a Fighting Immortal was impossible. As I hesitated, Seo Mun-hye, who had followed me, suddenly lunged at Nata.

Eight Immortals Divine Art.

Remnant Void Cloud Radiance.

Puk-puk-puk.

Krraaakk!!

Nata screamed and retreated from Seo Mun-hye's merciless thrusts. It looked simple, but her supreme martial prowess made it impossible even for a Fighting Immortal to block or deflect!

"Baek Woong, go!"

Seo Mun-hye shouted.

"S-seo Mun-hye, I leave it to you!"

Whether she could win didn't matter. Honestly, pitting her against a top Fighting Immortal was absurd, but now wasn't the time to quibble!

Hadn't we all come here staking our lives? If I wasted this momentary gap she'd created, not just Nata but other Fighting Immortals would interfere, and it'd be over.

"Yaaah!"

I broke through the encirclement!

Seizing the opening Seo Mun-hye made, I plunged into the grand formation below without a second thought. Deeper than it appeared from the cliff, I fell for quite a while, and along the way, immortals popped up everywhere, hurling spells at me.

Kwarung.

Kaaah...!!

Screaming, I swung Hwaryo, and in that moment, Hwaryo revealed the Fire Dragon True Man, who reflected all incoming spells.

[Puppets!]

The immortals panicked greatly.

Gasp! It's the Fire Dragon True Man...!

Impossible.

It was their final moments. The Fire Dragon True Man's spellcasting was supreme, even lesser ascended immortals couldn't overcome him.

Fwoosh.

Struck by their own reflected spells, the immortals burned to death—a sign the Fire Dragon True Man's power was at its peak. He addressed me.

[You've done well so far! Ye Dongbin and I conserved strength to reach here undetected—we can break the formation.]

Ziling.

But when only ten-odd feet remained to the 108 sorcerers' position, my body suddenly halted in midair. It was as if an invisible transparent floor had appeared below.

......?

As I puzzled over it, a clear laugh echoed from below the barrier. It came from the center amid the widely arrayed 108 sorcerers, from a being shrouded in five-colored clouds.

[Hehehehe. A cute little bug has come to disturb me.]

Hearing that laugh, I felt every hair on my body stand on end.

[How far can a bug's power take you?]

It was the Queen Mother of the West.

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