Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Ye Dongbin used his Sword Flight Technique to mount his sword and enter the city of Luoyang. As planned, he made contact with the head of the Han Clan. The current head was Jade Dragon Divine Lord Han Geunwol, who spoke the moment he met Ye Dongbin.

"Sword Immortal. Given the circumstances, striking down Empress Later-Heaven directly right now is out of the question."

"Do you know something?"

Jade Dragon Divine Lord nodded before continuing.

"After the world fell into chaos, Empress Later-Heaven grew wary of threats to her person and gathered the realm's top experts to form the Six Paragons. All of them are among the current Ten Great Masters of the martial world, and I was once one of them. But I left that position."

"I've heard that much. Why did you abandon your status among the Six Paragons?"

"Because I refused their offer of power."

"...?!"

"Recently, Shangguan Wanya—known as the Construction Premier—made a secret proposal to all the Six Paragons. She said she could grant us far greater power if we followed her... Of course, I thought it was madness at first, and the others did too, dismissing her. But one by one, they began falling under her sway."

"Shangguan Wanya."

"And from some point on, they started crafting something in the imperial palace's underground chambers and secret locations."

Shangguan Wanya!

Nominally, she was just a palace maid, but in truth, she was anything but. With Empress Later-Heaven's favor, she handled most officials' reports and memorials, earning the title Inner Attendant. After the empress ascended the throne, she wielded such influence within the palace that she was called the Turban Premier, making her effectively the prime minister of the Great Tang Empire.

'And she's the one who once defeated me...'

Since learning her name, Ye Dongbin had relentlessly pursued her trail. He discovered she wielded monstrous strength while secretly manipulating the empire's politics and economy from the shadows. Sure enough, the had now made corrupting offers even to the martial world's top experts from within the palace.

Just what was Shangguan Wanya?

Ye Dongbin pondered briefly before responding.

"So the Six Paragons, the current martial world's greatest masters, received some bizarre power and grew far stronger."

"That's right. The imperial palace is now a dragon's pool and tiger's den. Even flying or crawling experts would die the instant they intrude. That applies to you Eight Immortals as well."

Creak.

Ye Dongbin rose from his seat the moment the words ended. He spoke coldly.

"Lead the way."

"No, what..."

"My goal is to investigate Empress Later-Heaven. Wasting time fearing half-hearted enemies is unacceptable! With just a little help from you, we can finish this quickly."

Jade Dragon Divine Lord twisted his famously handsome face in disbelief.

"Did you even hear me? Six of the Great Tang Empire's Ten Great Masters are there..."

"So?"

"..."

"Follow me. No need to delay."

Flash.

Ye Dongbin launched into the sky with his Sword Flight Technique. Jade Dragon Divine Lord stared blankly at his retreating figure before reluctantly following with his Phantom Shadow Mists Step.

Moments later, Ye Dongbin entered the Great Tang Empire's imperial palace with Jade Dragon Divine Lord. Once inside, he immediately blended his energy with the surroundings to conceal his presence. Jade Dragon Divine Lord sent a transmission of admiration.

[Impressive. Is the Sword Immortal's stealth technique the pinnacle of the jianghu?]

[You know Empress Later-Heaven's location. Where is she?]

[I'll guide you.]

Having once been a Paragon stationed in the palace, Jade Dragon Divine Lord knew its layout well. He led Ye Dongbin past countless palace buildings until they entered the inner palace, where Ye Dongbin sensed a tremendous energy enveloping them.

Swish swish swish.

There were six presences in total. They slowly revealed themselves, surrounding the Sword Immortal and Jade Dragon Divine Lord. All wore masks. The one in the center, arms crossed, spoke.

"Jade Dragon Divine Lord. To dare bring an outsider into the palace... Your Han Clan will be wiped out root and stem."

Jade Dragon Divine Lord snorted.

"Hmph! I've known ever since I left the Six Paragons that you'd eventually strike our clan and exterminate us. Don't pretend to show mercy..."

"Kehehehe... I don't know who you brought, but this is your grave."

He cackled maniacally and charged at Jade Dragon Divine Lord with terrifying speed. Jade Dragon Divine Lord drew his flexible sword from his waist and unleashed his clan's swordsmanship.

Dragon King Sword!

Clang.

True to his status as one of the Ten Great Masters, Jade Dragon Divine Lord clashed sword energies with the attacker, producing a massive shockwave. But mid-unfolding of his Dragon King Swordsmanship, he suffered internal injuries, his face turning ashen. He couldn't withstand even ten exchanges, vomiting blood and retreating.

"Cough..."

The one who effortlessly overwhelmed Jade Dragon Divine Lord laughed uproariously.

"Kuhahaha! Is that all you've got, Jade Dragon Divine Lord?"

"Blood Lion... How can a mere evil sect leader like you possess such profound inner energy..."

Jade Dragon Divine Lord could hardly believe it. He himself was a transcendent expert with immense inner energy, yet this foe surpassed him! It was even harder to accept coming from an evil sect origin.

"Kekeke! I could take your head solo in fifty exchanges. I've always hated your pretty face and attitude."

Blood Lion cackled and nodded.

"Seize them!"

Whoosh.

The five experts, Blood Lion included, charged almost simultaneously. In that instant, Sword Immortal Ye Dongbin's eyes flashed.

Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship

Six Intents Heavy Heaven Diagram

The moment Ye Dongbin's will unfolded, sword qi like dense raindrops—tens of thousands strong—swept the front. Two of the charging Paragons panicked and tried blocking with their protective auras, but they soon became minced meat.

Thud thud thud thud.

It was like piercing wet paper with iron needles.

"Arghhh!"

"W-what?!"

The three remaining Paragons who saw their comrades turned to pulp were stunned and belatedly dodged with their movement arts. But Ye Dongbin floated his sword into the air and unleashed Sword Control.

Sword Control.

Flames of fury blazed in Ye Dongbin's eyes.

Heavenly Escape Swordsmanship

Seeking Ultimate Overlord Slash

The most murderous and powerful supreme strike from the Initial Overlord's 96 sword forms!

Roooar.

The next moment, Ye Dongbin unleashed ten controlled swords that ballooned to dozens of feet wide, as if to cleave a mountain. The massive swords sliced through the three Paragons at incredible speed—an attack their skills couldn't evade or block.

Splurt.

Thud thud thud...

Seeking Ultimate Overlord Slash cleaved through their protective auras, shredding them into dozens of bloody chunks. Moments later, lumps of flesh rained from the sky. Ye Dongbin slowly sheathed his longsword into its scabbard on his back without a sound.

"......!!"

Jade Dragon Divine Lord, who had retreated to heal his injuries, stared in a daze. Trembling in shock, he muttered.

"My... my god. Sword Immortal, you've reached the Absolute Realm."

"....."

Ye Dongbin didn't respond. It wasn't dismissal or ignoring the question. While cutting down the Paragons, he'd noticed two concerning points.

First, unleashing Six Intents Holy Heaven Diagram had let him grasp the circulation of the 'rain' intent. Unnoticeable against ordinary foes, but these transcendent experts endured long enough for refinement. Soon, he'd wield the intents of heaven, earth, sea, wind, clouds, and rain distinctly.

Second, the Six Paragons weren't fully eliminated. One remained.

Ye Dongbin glanced at empty space. It appeared utterly vacant, but he shot lethal intent there. Soon, a figure burst out.

"Well, well... Aren't you a bit too strong?"

"Why didn't you join the other five in attacking?"

"No point when we couldn't win. Unlike those fools, I know when I'm outmatched. And fighting's not my specialty."

The freakish old man chuckled wryly before continuing.

"I'll take my leave. Your rampage in the palace makes my goal easier... Worth taking Jade Dragon Divine Lord's spot."

"Who are you?"

"Call me Divine Thief Supreme, the world's greatest thief!"

Whoosh!!

The self-proclaimed Divine Thief Supreme vanished with stealth arts.

Pew.

Ye Dongbin fired a single controlled sword before he disappeared, but Divine Thief Supreme seemed to deflect it effortlessly. Recovering his sword, Ye Dongbin thought.

'An incredible expert. Unlike the rabble, he's on the cusp of the Absolute Realm...'

The controlled sword matched the power that shredded the Paragons. Yet it didn't harm him—proof Divine Thief Supreme was leagues above the others.

[Here's a tip: The Shangguan Clan's underground is suspicious.]

Clearly manipulating Ye Dongbin to achieve his own ends. His goal was likely stealing something from the palace.

"....."

Ye Dongbin fell silent, then extended a hand to heal Jade Dragon Divine Lord's injuries. As the lord rose, bealed, he clicked his tongue in awe.

"I've glimpsed a heaven beyond heaven today. But is it fine for a Daoist to so casually take lives?"

"No matter. They're no longer human."

"Huh?"

Drip drip...

Green blood oozed from the dead Paragons' corpses, from which low-grade demonic beasts slowly rose. Seeing the hideous creatures emerge, Jade Dragon Divine Lord was speechless. Ye Dongbin spoke calmly.

"It's common in this era. Warriors seeking power beyond their realm accept demonic corruption and become monsters..."

"....."

"I spared Divine Thief Supreme because he hadn't accepted it."

Boom boom.

Ye Dongbin extended sword qi to cleanly finish the cleanup. Then he said.

"Return now. Request reinforcements from the White Lotus Cult."

"...Understood."

Jade Dragon Divine Lord had to admit he was a liability.

Tadadak.

Ye Dongbin delved deeper into the palace. The further in, the more he sensed otherworldly stench and malevolent energy rampant. Soon, blatantly exposed demonic structures appeared. Watching from within the divine sword, Flame Dragon True Man spoke.

[They've moved Dark Heaven Village's otherworld here.]

"Master. Has Empress Later-Heaven become one of them too?"

[Who knows... But something's off.]

"What do you mean?"

[If it were just for power, they wouldn't summon this atmosphere. This seems prepared for a more special ritual.]

"......?"

Ye Dongbin couldn't tell, but Flame Dragon True Man—incarnation of the Divine Dragon—sensed something unique. Descending a spiral staircase deeper in, he found a woman at the bottom.

Noble attire and appearance—

Her slightly wrinkled yet far from thirtyish face was pale and translucent. Stern yet arrogantly condescending, its owner was the Great Tang Empire's ruler and emperor: Empress Later-Heaven.

Spotting Ye Dongbin, Empress Later-Heaven spoke.

"I just got the report. You're Sword Immortal Ye Dongbin?"

Ye Dongbin nodded and pointed his sword.

"As representative of the Eight Immortals, I will take your life, Empress Later-Heaven."

His original goal was reconnaissance, but learning the blatantly borrowed otherworldly power changed everything. His purpose was now execution. Still, Empress Later-Heaven flinched but spoke steadily.

"Sword Immortal. What becomes of Us upon death?"

"What do you mean?"

"You follow the Immortal Path, so you can answer."

Ye Dongbin calmly observed her. Seeing no combat prowess to threaten him, he lowered his guard slightly and answered.

"You cannot go normally to the afterlife."

"Then?"

"Heaven will reclaim your soul for judgment. The Grand Council Immortals will first assess your crimes' severity, then the Three Pure Ones and Jade Emperor decree your final punishment."

"Judgment. If my sins are grave, how painful is the penalty?"

"You'll be confined in Heaven's Kunlun Thunder Prison for hundreds or thousands of years of penitence."

"Huhu... Is that all?"

Empress Later-Heaven gave a bitter smile.

"Merely that..."

Ye Dongbin was baffled by her dismissive tone.

"What nonsense? Do you know how agonizing that punishment is?"

"Who knows without experiencing it... But at least the penalty you describe is milder than the apocalyptic hell I witnessed through Shangguan Wanya."

"......!!"

Apocalyptic hell!

Ye Dongbin knew what that meant. As he stiffened, Empress Later-Heaven continued.

"Shangguan Wanya showed me what happens after death. The path souls of the capable take to the Pantheon... the path to the afterlife... All lead to becoming eternal prey for the [Ancient Ruler], suffering endless torment."

"Absurd."

"She might have deceived Us... But I believe her."

Empress Later-Heaven gazed into empty space before speaking.

"We... originally thought of this Great Tang Empire as Our child... We purged corrupt officials, checked ambitious clans, reformed systems—all to let Our child's descendants rule and the people live in peace."

"....."

"We sacrificed personal safety, devoting body and soul solely to reviving the empire."

Those words rang true.

Reviled by the populace, she was undeniably resolute and politically astute. In her early reign, she greatly revitalized the Tang. Without the yokai and otherworld surge, she'd be hailed an unprecedented sage ruler. Scholars couldn't fathom her later misgovernment.

"But... if all becomes hell after death... what meaning does any of it have? Ye Dongbin... If the world inevitably rushes toward despair... what worth is ruling the realm or imperial power?"

Ye Dongbin couldn't readily answer.

Because he knew her words were true.

Apocalypse!

He vaguely foresaw the world after and understood her despair. As Ye Dongbin stood silent, Empress Later-Heaven spoke.

"So We decided to become a god."

"A god?"

Empress Later-Heaven continued evenly.

"With Shangguan Wanya's aid, We'll ascend to Dark Heaven Village as a god, then gather Our subjects' souls to save them from the end. As a lesser god with Our own Pantheon of Ten Thousand Devils, We can shelter Our kin there."

"Wha..."

Ye Dongbin looked at her in bewilderment, but her eyes held pure sincerity, devoid of ulterior motive or deceit.

"Ye Dongbin... We seek to become a god and save Our people."

She gazed at him steadily.

"Am I wrong?"

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