Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

A chill ran down my spine at the realization that the Queen Mother of the West was aware of me. I might end up dying here without accomplishing a thing. But of course, she would have erected a barrier to protect herself while adhering to Pangu's incantation, so this was expected. I calmly considered whether I could break through this barrier. Either way, what I had to do remained unchanged.

'For now, with brute force...'

Crackle!

As I channeled the Immortal Sword Technique and gripped Huanyao, the dual sword stance was complete. Though my path to this point had been fraught with twists and turns, leaving little time for proper dual sword training, the forms I executed were all one-strike kills. That made it easy enough to adapt them with the First Sword Style's intuition. I could vividly feel the two Great Immortals residing in my palms, channeling their maximum power.

Could I do it?

'No, I have to!'

I set aside my doubts and entered the state of perfect clarity. With my foundation in martial arts training, banishing stray thoughts and assuming the Sword and Man United stance was effortless. As I focused my mind, time seemed to stop, and my body leaped into the air, poised for the strike.

Thunder God Style

Lightning-fast slashes plunged into the barrier one after another. First, the power of Huanyao's Sevenfold Infernal Flames, drawn forth by Fire Dragon True Person, concentrated at a single point and hammered the barrier. Amid the faint vibrations, Yeo Dongbin's immortal sword pierced the gap. The tip of Yeo Dongbin's blade simultaneously unleashed the Wind Verdict and Cloud Verdict of the Heavenly Obscure Swordsmanship, thrashing violently, while the greatest battle aura of the Great Immortals tore the barrier apart.

Sherrk

"...!!"

But the barrier, which seemed cleaved open, was only half-torn. Fortunately, it didn't regenerate, but the sight shocked me. Even with the Sevenfold Infernal Flames and Yeo Dongbin's lifelong sword force, I couldn't break through?

This barrier was several times stronger than the Kunlun Twelve Great Immortals' barrier. To think such a formidable barrier existed at the very end! As I reeled in shock, the Queen Mother of the West's voice echoed from within the barrier.

[Yeo Dongbin... Fire Dragon True Person... How tragic that brilliant immortals of such caliber would rebel against me. And to think you brought the Sevenfold Relic... But even if you draw forth techniques in an unsealed state, you cannot surpass the realm in realm.]

[The rebellion ends here. Bow your heads and withdraw. Your crimes will be addressed once Pangu's incantation concludes.]

In a tone that made it sound inevitable, the Queen Mother of the West calmly declared my failure. And rightly so—I had just unleashed near-maximum power, so I couldn't muster the same strength again for a while. By the time I recovered, our allies would likely be annihilated.

As proof, the spiritual energy flowing from Yeo Dongbin's immortal sword had sharply diminished, and Fire Dragon True Person was catching his breath. Having expended all their power in that instant, they needed time to recover.

But resentment boiled up inside me, and I shouted. All the pent-up frustration exploded out.

"Rebellion? Who the hell are you to call it rebellion or whatever?! You fucking bitch!"

[Hmm...?]

The Queen Mother of the West responded as if caught off guard. I wasn't even on her radar, and she'd overlooked me. But I didn't stop there, bellowing more curses.

"You mangy bitch! Kidnapping and devouring innocent immortals—tasty, was it? Plotting schemes to toy with the heavens—having fun? You pretentious old hag, cracking pumpkin seeds like you're so noble!"

[You insolent...]

I glared wide-eyed and yelled.

"Don't move a muscle. I'm going to chop off that pig neck of yours and salt it down."

[......]

The Queen Mother of the West fell silent in disbelief before bursting into laughter.

[Heh heh heh... Fine, so the worm yaps on.]

Did she still think the gap insurmountable? Though she mocked me calmly despite the insults, I didn't lose my fighting spirit.

And in my mind, I thought:

'The time has come...'

It was a method I truly hadn't wanted to use until now. If the Immortal Sword Technique and Huanyao's Infernal Flames could breach it, I planned to shatter Pangu's incantation, rescue Seomoonhye, and flee to the mortal world. Even with death on the table today, surviving without dying was ideal.

But with my limits exposed, I had no choice. I would have to summon an asura field premised on my own death. Before starting, I addressed Yeo Dongbin and Fire Dragon True Person.

[My apologies, both of you. The method I'm about to use isn't proper... but without it, we can't win.]

Yeo Dongbin replied calmly.

[Young one. I know what method you learned from that sorcerer. I was there too. Indeed, as a Great Immortal of the heavenly realm, I cannot condone it.]

[......]

[Yet the Queen Mother of the West has abandoned the heavens. And the justice of the heavens with it. Thus, I too abandon the heavens and pursue my own justice...]

[Yeo Dongbin.]

[Young one. Be brave. I, Yeo Dongbin, will follow you to the end.]

Fire Dragon True Person followed.

[As expected of my disciple! She stole all the words I wanted to say—what a cheeky pupil.]

[Fire Dragon True Person.]

[Go! Even if the heavens fall today, believe your path is right. That is the true Dao.]

[...Thank you.]

Their words gave me courage. No more hesitation. With resolve, I raised my right hand and slowly drew out the wooden box.

"I offer this sacrifice here."

Recalling the demonic rites and sacrificial methods taught by Zhuge Sa, I chanted the incantation. Though simplified, in the spirit-rich heavens, the ritual would take hold far easier than in the human realm. As the chant swiftly concluded, I pulled the 'sacrifice' from the wooden box and scattered it into the sky.

"Receive this breath soil and descend upon this land!! Gonggong!!"

Rumble

Ruuuummble

In the next instant, the breath soil I'd gathered en masse from Mount Huang burst from the tiny wooden box as if alive. This was the divine grace bestowed by Zhuanxu to humanity for flood control: breath soil! Brimming with potent spiritual energy capable of nurturing elixirs and divine items, I'd collected as much as possible in a short time and stored it in the box.

A floating spell array devoured the breath soil rapidly. As the vortex sucked it all in, ice and flames suddenly clashed in the void, and a beam of light descended.

Boom

[The law of causality is fulfilled. I shall descend upon you!!]

As Gonggong's voice rang out, blue lightning crackled from my body. My consciousness was pushed aside momentarily as an immense spiritual presence descended upon me. The giant god's soul was possessing my body.

Whoooosh

Once Gonggong fully descended, he glanced at the immortal sword and Huanyao in my hands, smirked, and tucked them neatly into the wooden box. The two Great Immortals' souls yielded to his power without resistance.

[No need for such grand tools to shatter this pathetic barrier.]

Gonggong then moved my body and stomped down on the barrier at his feet.

Thud

It happened in a flash. Even half-breached, the barrier shattered entirely under one stomp from Gonggong, and the shockwave sent the immortals chanting Pangu's incantation screaming as they were flung away.

"Arghhh."

"Ugh."

Even immortals felt pain, and the gale born of Gonggong's divine power was lethal to them. Some died on impact, while most lost consciousness and reverted to spirit forms.

Ruuumble

Gonggong crossed his arms and descended slowly, confronting the entity shrouded in five-colored clouds at the array's center. The Queen Mother of the West, wrapped in those clouds, spoke in a trembling voice of genuine shock.

[What...? Gonggong, how...]

[Hahaha. So surprised to see me out?]

Gonggong grinned cruelly and said:

[I never dreamed a lofty being like you was play-acting as a child for millennia.]

Flames and ice spirits swirling around Gonggong's body merged into hundreds of blades. He nodded, launching the ice-flame spears at the Queen Mother of the West. The attack seemed impossible to dodge, as if time itself were erased—like Zhuanxu's assault on the Qin realm.

Splatter

Gonggong's strikes pierced the five-colored clouds in an instant, skewering the Queen Mother of the West like a kabob. Had it ended in one blow? No—the clouds vanished cleanly, and the ice-flame spears dissolved.

Shhh

With the clouds dispelled, the Queen Mother of the West revealed herself. Unlike her image in the Water-Mother Ritual, she brimmed with dark energy, blackening the very air around her. She glared at Gonggong slowly and spoke.

[Perfect. With the Sevenfold Relic's unsealing imminent, you were doomed to die anyway. I'll handle you now.]

[Keh heh! Talk big, why don't you? Weren't you the one cowering behind the Emperor, unable to face Chiyou?]

[And? Your power doesn't even reach a tenth of Chiyou's.]

The Queen Mother of the West replied calmly, her voice thick with killing intent.

[To show yourself here—you must crave death, Gonggong. If that's your wish, I'll grant it.]

[Pangu's incantation is broken, halving your power, isn't it?]

Gonggong mocked, and the Queen Mother of the West chuckled.

[Gonggong. From the dawn of time, our realms have differed. Think a mere incantation weakens me this much?]

Screech

Five purple orbs floated in the Queen Mother of the West's hand. Gonggong, sounding quite flustered, addressed me observing from within.

[Baek Woong. If you have any cards left, play them now.]

[Can't win a head-on fight with the Queen Mother of the West?]

[Don't talk nonsense. Heavenly Thunder Five Orbs would kill even me instantly. Not the time for mutual destruction.]

Heavenly Thunder Five Orbs?

It seemed to name the spell she was unleashing. Gonggong wouldn't cry wolf, so I reluctantly resorted to my trump card.

I briefly reclaimed control from Gonggong and drew the Nameless Sacrificial Text from the wooden box. Holding it, I chanted.

"With this scripture as payment, I summon you: emissary of the north wind, walker of winds! Aid me here!"

Fwoosh!

The Nameless Sacrificial Text burned away. Simultaneously, the [Ancient Ruler] of the North Pole I'd seen before was summoned unexpectedly. He looked at me, somewhat bewildered.

[Why summon me to the heavens...]

Splatter

[Arghhh.]

The skull-faced [Ancient Ruler] took the Queen Mother of the West's Heavenly Thunder Five Orbs without warning, his divine body exploding into shards. As a god, he quickly regenerated, but he seemed badly hurt.

The North Pole [Ancient Ruler] glared at me in agony.

[How dare you... use me as a shield! I curse you...]

Indeed. Zhuge Sa, deeming the world doomed anyway, had given me the Nameless Sacrificial Text and taught the incantation to summon the [Ancient Ruler] linked to Suwo using it as payment.

Though one-use, few [Ancient Rulers] would refuse the supreme demonic tome. He'd send an avatar to aid me. But in truth, it was a shield for the Heavenly Thunder Five Orbs.

Gonggong retook control and said calmly to him.

[Curse my apostle if you must. Take it out on the one who hit you. Can't even do that after gobbling the demonic tome?]

[Gonggong!]

He recognized Gonggong. After stewing in rage, the North Pole [Ancient Ruler] turned to the Queen Mother of the West, grinding his teeth.

[You. Attacking me—aren't you too arrogant?]

The Queen Mother of the West replied, equally surprised.

[I didn't expect you. But why glare?]

[What...]

[Begone. This is my domain. Don't meddle.]

I couldn't hide my bewilderment at the scene. This North Pole [Ancient Ruler] was powerful enough to upheave the heavens when possessing me before. Did she not know his strength?

But what came next was more shocking: the North Pole [Ancient Ruler]'s subdued retort.

[No matter how great you are, faunting power with an avatar? You Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors amount to nothing post-apotheosis—such excessive hubris.]

You.

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

The Queen Mother of the West replied nonchalantly.

[If you won't leave willingly, no choice. I'll have to overexert today.]

Her spirit body rose fluidly, and she roared massively toward the west.

The cry came thrice—the exact count Yeo Dongbin mentioned.

Rumble

The Queen Mother of the West's form suddenly grew enormous, losing its human shape. With disheveled hair adorned by a hairpin, leopard tail, and tiger fangs, a half-human, half-beast appeared. No lofty goddess, but a terrifying fierce beast akin to an [Ancient Ruler].

The Queen Mother of the West looked down haughtily at the North Pole [Ancient Ruler] and Gonggong.

[This world belongs to me, the Earth Mother God. I'll clean out the trash.]

Thwack

In the next instant, the North Pole [Ancient Ruler] was swatted by the beastly Queen Mother of the West's claws and vanished.

Even an avatar—could such a thing be possible?

It happened too fast for me to react, and Gonggong said tensely.

[She finally reveals her true colors...Niwa?]

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