Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Gansu Province's White Lotus Church headquarters.

I joined the martial arena without any special disguise or concealment techniques, simply pretending to be one of Jin So-cheong's followers. There was no point in hiding my appearance unnecessarily in the White Lotus Church headquarters, where all sorts of eccentrics gathered—it would only draw attention. As long as I suppressed my internal energy, no one would notice me.

"Ooooh!"

"Jin So-cheong, the great hero! Become the supreme leader between today!!"

The fifty or so followers who had come with Jin So-cheong cheered as they trailed behind him. They were hot-blooded youngsters from the righteous sects, in their twenties and thirties. They claimed to have been inspired by Jin So-cheong's martial prowess and vowed to share his fate, win or lose. Of course, that was just talk—the real calculation was that the White Lotus Church wouldn't dare slaughter or abuse the victor with the eyes of the entire martial world upon them.

Righteous faction luminaries and young prodigies had also come to watch Jin So-cheong's duel, along with eminent monks from the Buddhist orders. From the evil factions, the Sword Demon had arrived. In deference, the White Lotus Church had three masked Dharma Protectors standing beside their Church Lord.

The White Lotus Church Lord stood atop a massive platform, looking down at Jin So-cheong, who gazed up at him in turn. After locking eyes for a moment, the Church Lord silently floated up and descended slowly to land three zhang before Jin So-cheong.

The White Lotus Church Lord's voice boomed through the arena via Six Harmonies True Voice.

Silence fell instantly. The mere projection of his Six Harmonies True Voice carried an overwhelming pressure that made those with weaker skills stagger, their faces draining of color. In response, Jin So-cheong stepped forward and said,

"White Lotus Church Lord. I've heard you possess the greatest martial arts in the world."

[From whom?]

"Everyone I've met has told me so."

Jin So-cheong's words weren't exaggeration. Martial artists whispered it in hushed tones, but they all assumed the White Lotus Church Lord was the world's best, and no one dared compare themselves to him. Even the rumors said his Dharma Protectors were otherworldly beings. The Church Lord then said,

[You have achieved remarkable heights at such a young age. Who is your master?]

Jin So-cheong replied calmly.

"I cannot reveal that, but you already know my sect, don't you?"

Murmurs rippled through the arena.

The young prodigies gathered there sensed something off. In truth, they had followed him purely out of admiration for his prowess and knew little of the origins of his martial arts. But the White Lotus Church side seemed to know well enough, showing no agitation.

The Church Lord gazed at Jin So-cheong and said,

[Indeed. Which is why I cannot let you leave here lightly today.]

The words carried layers of meaning.

From the Church Lord's perspective, Jin So-cheong was a butterfly flown into his web. He would surely capture him to extract the secrets of the Thunder God Style. A subtle killing intent laced the words, tensing the arena in an instant.

At that moment, Jin So-cheong spoke.

"It's an honor. How about this wager, then?"

[A wager?]

"The loser becomes the winner's disciple."

[......]

"With the eyes of the martial world upon this duel, we can't allow an inauspicious outcome. Win or lose, let it be an opportunity to refine our arts."

Yong Bi-cheon, standing behind the Church Lord, let out a cold laugh.

"Kekeke! Thinking up excuses before even losing."

"Shut your mouth. No need to react to every greenhorn."

"......"

Han Baek-ryeong's sharp rebuke silenced Yong Bi-cheon. But she didn't look pleased either. From the Dharma Protectors' viewpoint, some young upstart challenging their supreme leader tarnished the White Lotus Church's dignity.

The Church Lord stroked his mask with apparent interest.

[Intriguing. Jin So-cheong, do you wish to become my disciple?]

"If your martial arts warrant it! But it won't be easy."

Jin So-cheong provocatively raised his spear tip toward the Church Lord.

"Instead, I might gain a new disciple today?"

Rumble...

"That... insolent bastard!"

"How dare he to the Church Lord!!"

"Kill Jin So-cheong."

In that instant, immense auras and killing intent erupted from the White Lotus Church side. It came from the waiting Water God Style experts, the Water God Corps, and the elders. As peak experts unleashed their power simultaneously, the young prodigies behind Jin So-cheong paled in terror.

"Eek!"

"W-what is this?"

"Impossible!! So many experts..."

They were caught off guard by the unexpected killing intent. Drunk on dreams of the jianghu, they had followed without knowing the White Lotus Church's might—and now faced grim reality. The Church's power wasn't merely that of a great sect; it could blanket the jianghu dozens of times over.

Humm.

The righteous faction's top experts—the Dragon Monk, eminent monks, and Sword Demon—then released their energies to shield the prodigies. One monk chanted softly,

"Amitabha. Please restrain your killing intent, White Lotus Church members."

Glancing at the monk, the Church Lord said,

[Eminent Monk. I didn't expect you to come with these children. I thought you a discerning sage among the jianghu.]

"The Church Lord possesses heavenly great power, so I beseech your compassion. You know well that harming us here gains nothing."

[True. Losing temper over childish games lacks magnanimity...]

The Church Lord raised his hand leisurely.

[All of you, stop. Any who vent killing intent at guests will be punished.]

The killing intent and pressure from behind ceased. As the arena stabilized, the Church Lord clasped his hands behind his back and addressed Jin So-cheong.

[Jin So-cheong. I'm deeply intrigued by whatever scheme brought you here. A Thunder God Style grandmaster like you wouldn't come without purpose.]

"......"

[If you want a playful atmosphere, I'll oblige. But don't think you'll match my seriousness.]

Swoosh...

[Shall I face you for ten exchanges without using my hands?]

"Arrogant."

[Just right.]

The Church Lord gathered qi with hands behind his back. Jin So-cheong countered by raising his spear. As they faced off, the air between them seemed to boil like a vacuum, and onlookers hurriedly retreated. They instinctively knew getting caught in the clash would reduce them to mincemeat.

Only when the spectators had withdrawn twenty-some zhang did Jin So-cheong and the Church Lord begin to move slowly.

Watching them, I thought,

'Jin So-cheong's current skill is equal to mine or slightly below...'

Even with the vast martial experience I'd transferred via Eun Bong-hwang, it was astonishing that he'd stepped so close to the Absolute Realm in this short time. But his talent had limits; he hadn't broken past peak into Absolute. Thus, this duel was decided from the start.

But Jin So-cheong hadn't come to win. If he had, he'd have secluded himself for years. He came to naturally become the Church Lord's disciple—the key was losing convincingly.

With the world's eyes on this wager, the Church Lord's nature wouldn't let him break his word. He'd take Jin So-cheong as disciple. But I couldn't rule out a whim leading to murder, so I watched closely.

Jin So-cheong moved first.

"Haat!"

Boom.

The air shuddered as his spear tip thrust at the Church Lord. Lightly put, but in truth, the Thunder God Style grandmaster struck with terrifying speed to burst vital points. Few in the jianghu could block or evade that single technique.

But the strike pierced only an afterimage. The Church Lord left the image and shifted laterally at terrifying speed to take Jin So-cheong's rear. In that instant, Jin So-cheong used the Thunder God Style's Heaven Light footwork to create light clones.

[Ho?]

Flash.

A bizarre duel of each seizing the other's back! A contest of lightness skills and a subtle dialogue of martial depths. Naturally, the Church Lord held the edge, locating Jin So-cheong's true body amid the Heaven Light and lightly kicking out.

Whoosh.

The Water God Style's White Lotus Kick flew with power to shatter Jin So-cheong's body, but he evaded its path by a hair, coiling in to target the Church Lord's throat. Caught off guard by the counter, the Church Lord waited until the last moment to dodge.

Swish swish.

Flash.

"O... Ooh..."

"What's happening?"

The young prodigies couldn't track their blurring forms even after a dozen exchanges, staring dumbfounded. No wonder—the exchanges were so fast that only top peak experts could follow.

Even the White Lotus Church experts watching from behind paused their fury, whispering in interest. To them, Jin So-cheong seemed 'quite impressive.'

Boom!!

Just past a dozen exchanges, the Church Lord fluttered his form and unleashed qi. Jin So-cheong swept it aside with his spear. Returning to his original spot, the Church Lord said,

[Indeed... You're worth using my hands on. Enough skill to overwhelm the central plains' strongest righteous experts.]

"Won't it be embarrassing if you lose without using them?"

Jin So-cheong taunted arrogantly, but the Church Lord responded leisurely.

[It would be fun if my Church had someone as spirited as you.]

Whirring—

As the Church Lord unbound his hands, the arena's atmosphere shifted. Mandala blossoms rose layer by layer behind him, his infinite internal energy awakening. Not full Heartless Heavens yet, but a sign he was getting serious.

'Jin So-cheong needs the Seven Great Ultimates and Eight Immortal Divine Arts to endure the Church Lord's hands. That way, even against him, he'd last at least a hundred exchanges. But...'

He wouldn't. He'd fused and elevated them in that short time, but couldn't use them here. Any foreign martial reaction would pique the Church Lord's curiosity, leading him to probe their origins.

Jin So-cheong's goal: preserve his life, hide those arts' prowess, and lose naturally! Near impossible. He'd have to endure with pure Thunder God Style.

Silence fell, then Jin So-cheong activated Thunder Roar. As lightning's cry gathered within him, the Church Lord muttered in surprise at the mental clarity,

[Using Thunder God Style's ultimate secret before a Water God Style master—reckless.]

Clang!

Jin So-cheong's body warped like a thunder beast, exploding forward several times faster.

[Where?]

The Church Lord seemed unresponsive until the last instant, then summoned mandala to disrupt the strike and slapped out with one palm at Jin So-cheong's gap.

Perfect counter!

That was the terror of the Absolute Realm. Offense and defense as one, with reaction speed rivaling Yeo Dong-bin—not total immunity to ambush, but near. Even Thunder Roar for advantage met instant defense and counter—the Church Lord's art was flawless.

'And even more terrifying, that's without Heartless Heavens...'

Boom rumble crash.

"Urk."

Jin So-cheong bounced through the air several times before righting himself with Air Treading Step.

Swish.

Simultaneously, the Church Lord circled behind again and slashed a hand blade at his nape. Jin So-cheong blocked with spearwork, but as his spear formed a qi barrier, the Church Lord's palm erupted white light, hammering his abdomen.

Thud thud thud.

"Cough!"

Jin So-cheong spewed a blood arrow and flew back. I barely discerned he was enduring to the brink naturally. Even the attacking Church Lord likely wouldn't notice that acting!

'Amazing, Jin So-cheong!'

Truly amazing.

From a subordinate's view, naturally concealing over thirty percent against the world's top expert while losing! Innate talent and instinct alone made it possible!

No matter the Church Lord's mastery, he underestimated Jin So-cheong now, pegging Thunder Roar as his limit. Arrogance blinded even Absolute Realm judgment—half the plan succeeded.

My prediction soon became certainty. Without suspicion, the Church Lord approached slowly and said,

[Your limits are clear. You couldn't handle even one of my Dharma Protectors, yet you challenge me...]

"... Urgh..."

The moment arrived. As Jin So-cheong staggered bitterly, the Church Lord said,

[Now, I'll end it. Taking a Thunder God Style disciple—what a joyous day...]

Flash.

White blazing qi surged from the Church Lord's palms toward Jin So-cheong. He'd feign full resistance, calculate every follow-up, thrash desperately, and lose naturally. Fool the Church Lord that far, and Jin So-cheong's acting was peerless. Plus, intending discipleship, the Church Lord wouldn't inflict grave injury.

'It's done!'

I watched intently, hoping Jin So-cheong wouldn't be badly hurt. The plan seemed certain to succeed.

But then—unforeseen chaos erupted.

Boom rumble.

The Church Lord's blazing white qi shattered head-on.

What blocked it was a single spear—and one warrior.

Seeing the back of the man who shielded him, Jin So-cheong murmured,

"Master."

Lee Gwang had appeared.

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