Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Asura of the Eight Legions!

I'd heard that this being was the incarnation of battle itself and vied for the top spot in strength among the Eight Legions. I'd seen his face once before when the Eight Legions came to threaten the White Lotus Cult. That's how I recognized him immediately now, though it didn't really matter. There was no particular way to deal with an entity this powerful trying to kill me.

I said to Asura,

"Why are you trying to kill me? At least let me know the reason before I die."

Normally, such a question would come from someone who'd already abandoned all will to live. But my situation was different. Even if I died, gaining even a scrap of information first would be a win, making it arguably more important than the fight itself. As I asked calmly, Asura replied.

"You were already under watch by the Celestial. Then Lord Changhil learned you possess the Imperial Seal of the Realm and began monitoring you. In the end, he discovered you were heading to Dark Heaven Village to find the palace of the Side Heaven Martial Marquis."

"......"

Come to think of it, Changhil was registered as a near-administrator of the Imperial Seal of the Realm. It seemed he could monitor the seal itself if he wanted. But since nothing had happened until now and only now was he making a move, it probably wasn't automatically feeding info to him.

While using the Imperial Seal of the Realm, I must avoid drawing the attention of the Eight Legions. Any information they obtain gets passed straight to Changhil, leading to situations like this! That was one more reason to stay cautious in my reincarnations.

Not fully understanding, I asked again.

"Is there a reason I can't find the Side Heaven Martial Marquis's palace? Is that enough to make a demonic lord like you come all the way to this otherworldly Dark Heaven Village to assassinate me personally?"

"You talk too much..."

Asura's eyes gleamed as he spoke.

"My lord dislikes you stirring up powerful [Ancient Rulers] while searching for the Seven Essentials and ruining the board. Besides, she's no stranger to my lord either. It's like fetching a troublemaker."

"Hmm..."

The info that the Side Heaven Martial Marquis was under an [Ancient Ruler]'s protection flashed in my mind.

'When the Side Heaven Martial Marquis performed the vassal rite, she sacrificed Toyo as an offering and ascended to godhood together.

And closely tied to that rite was Yasha of the Eight Legions, subordinate to Changhil... It makes sense.'

So Changhil didn't care about collecting the Seven Essentials but was focused on the gaze of the [Ancient Rulers]?

"Now, die."

As I pondered Changhil's intentions inwardly, Asura silently swung his rusted iron sword through the air.

KABOOM

It happened in an instant. It was just a casual swing, but I sensed my Fire Dragon Divine Sword react on its own, summoning the Fire Dragon True Person, who threw up a barrier. Then a massive explosion engulfed everything, a flash sweeping over a hundred feet in all directions. I realized I was being hurled backward by the shockwave.

"What?!"

No warning at all for an attack this devastating!

Considering my senses ranked among the best in the Central Plains, this was absurd. Even the ultimate techniques of cult leaders or Absolute Realm masters were something I could at least 'detect.'

Did he manipulate time?

As I reeled in shock, the Fire Dragon True Person manifested as a fiery spirit and said to me,

[Baek Woong! Yield your body to me!]

[Me?!]

[You can't win by having me merely assist. Decide quickly, or you'll die.]

[Wait a second!]

I hesitated.

'Should I hit him with the baleful spirit incantation first to weaken this Asura?

The risk of dying here was too high; it was worth a shot. The baleful spirit incantation was a precious divine spell, single-use, but worth it to save my life. However, if I could escape this without using it, it'd be a waste.

'Hoarding it could backfire!'

But I had no way to gauge the power gap between the Fire Dragon True Person and Asura. Deciding hesitation might burn my house down, I chanted the incantation as I flew backward.

"Starfall flowing at the hour of ruin! I borrow your power; bow to the millennium to come!"

HUMMM

At that moment, the baleful spirit incantation shot forward, enveloping Asura. With its trait of being impossible to dodge or block, Asura panicked visibly.

"What?! This incantation... Could it be..."

SPLORTCH

Asura's human form seemed swallowed by a mass of tentacles erupting from chaos. This spell had once devoured the Golden-Feathered Fifty Heavenly Armies in one go—it was that powerful. As Asura's presence vanished in an instant, I stared ahead in disbelief.

"Huh?"

Did one spell end it?

As I hoped inwardly, the Fire Dragon True Person urged me.

[Well done. Now yield your body!]

"That guy isn't dead yet?"

[The [Ancient Ruler] incantation you used is a mighty divine spell, but he's no weakling to fall to it alone. He's a demonic lord on par with or above the apocalyptic great dragon I once faced—not to be trifled with.]

"Hmm!"

[You've weakened him, good. No more wasting time—go all out. If he gets serious, you're dead in a blink.]

RUMBLE...

Just as the Fire Dragon True Person said. From within the magic circle of darkness covered in tentacles, a massive battle aura boiled up, white light seeping out visibly. Asura was overcoming the incantation, revealing his true form. I swallowed hard, raising my Ruyi Jingu Bang and shouting to its spirit.

"Lend me your power, please! I can't back down."

The Divine Merit Tablet floated her spirit form and eyed the Fire Dragon True Person.

[Indeed... incarnation of the Responsive Dragon? I can't see what this ugly thing has that makes even a dragon king like you follow him.]

The Fire Dragon True Person met her gaze and replied.

[You, sinner of the heavens. Aid us, and I'll petition the Three Pure Ones of the Heavenly Realm to free you.]

He seemed to recognize her as a powerful Great Luo Immortal and was trying to win her over. With their combined strength, they might even have a shot against Asura.

But the Divine Merit Tablet took offense at his words, her peerless beauty twisting slightly.

[What? Who are you to grant me mercy?]

[Not mercy—a deal.]

[Don't make me laugh. Lord Taishang's seal is nearly broken anyway; I can wait and be freed soon. How dare you look down on me...!]

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, her form vanished, seeping into the Ruyi Jingu Bang. I screamed as it grew unbearably heavy.

"Arrgh."

Too heavy!

The Ruyi Jingu Bang abruptly gained immense weight; even channeling my qi, I couldn't lift it without dislocating my shoulder. It felt like a small mountain peak. I hurriedly opened my chest armor and stowed it away.

'Damn! She maxed out the staff's weight in anger.'

She'd gotten offended, so no help from her. I couldn't blame the Fire Dragon True Person either—just inwardly curse her twisted personality. Her pride was so high she'd misinterpreted his words.

Resigned, I said to the Fire Dragon True Person,

"Fire Dragon True Person! I beg you."

[Leave it to me!]

HUM

Soon, the Fire Dragon True Person possessed me. I felt her controlling my body like when we toppled the alchemist. She wielded the Fire Dragon Divine Sword in one hand and the watery essence in the other, assuming battle stance.

RUMBLE

Asura still hadn't fully shaken the incantation; light beams leaked from the tentacles of chaos. The Fire Dragon True Person stared long, then broke the silence.

[What an odd fellow. Waiting for us to prepare?]

BOOM

At that instant, the tentacles burst, and a three-faced, six-armed demon erupted in a flash. Though his true form was human-sized, an indescribable aura emanated from him, putting me on edge. Each of his six arms held a different weapon.

The central face smirked and said,

[Dragon King. It would've been more fun with that Great Luo Immortal joining. Couldn't coordinate opinions?]

[That would've made it harder for you to win. Do you enjoy your foes' predicaments right before you?]

[Heh.]

From their exchange, I realized Asura's intent.

He'd waited for us to combine our powers!

He could've shaken the incantation instantly and killed me, but found it amusing that I was borrowing the Fire Dragon True Person or Divine Merit Tablet's strength. He'd waited patiently to fight all three at once. The Fire Dragon True Person seemed to think him a madman as she said,

[Arrogant.]

[Not really. I just love fighting the strong... It's my nature.]

[Hmm.]

[I came expecting a boring kill of a powerless human, but my eyes lit up.]

With that, Asura crossed his arms.

[I'll wait more if you want. Call out that Great Luo Immortal again.]

[......]

Was this guy sane?

He was here to kill me, yet so relaxed. Normally, you'd never give an enemy time to power up in a life-or-death fight, but he was doing it on purpose! I was inwardly stunned, but the Fire Dragon True Person said,

[Fine.]

She drew the Ruyi Jingu Bang from my chest armor and said to it,

[If you're not helping, stay planted in the ground.]

THUD!!

She hurled it down; its immense weight caused an earthquake as it burrowed deep. Watching from inside, I said incredulously,

[F-Fire Dragon True Person! What are you doing?]

[If she's useless, better to rile her up, no? She's not one to listen to sweet talk anyway.]

[Ugh.]

But what if the Divine Merit Tablet got mad and sided with Asura?

As I fretted inwardly, the Ruyi Jingu Bang suddenly expanded massively, revealing her spirit. She glared coldly at the Fire Dragon True Person.

[You really rub me the wrong way.]

The Fire Dragon True Person shot back without flinching.

[You started the tantrum.]

The two peerless beauties glared icily at each other. I worried Asura might attack, but true to his word, he watched with interest. He really wanted a strong opponent.

'Doesn't he think he could lose?'

As I inwardly shook my head, the Divine Merit Tablet said,

[Fine, I'll lend my power. Can't waste time here.]

[Focus.]

WHIRR

The Ruyi Jingu Bang returned to my hand, light as a feather. She'd committed fully; her spirit hovered like a shadow behind the Fire Dragon True Person.

With preparations complete, Asura grinned.

[Come on, let's clash!]

His three faces and six arms shook, emitting a massive crimson glow. As it rushed in, the Fire Dragon True Person swung her sword to deflect it. In that instant, Asura charged, unleashing a tremendous sword strike.

RUMBLE

The Divine Merit Tablet invoked thunder magic; lightning cracked as a thousand bolts rained from the sky. In this hell of lightning, Asura's eyes gleamed, thrusting his sword skyward.

Huh?

I sensed something eerie in the motion.

'No way...'

Because commonsense dictated no incarnation of Changhil would use that technique. I'd never even imagined it.

Silent Annihilation Infinity

In a split-second seeming to shred space-time, Asura's sword flash glowed. Accelerating, it turned pitch-black, silencing all around. Gathered in his sword was the essence of martial arts—a ultimate art and sect.

The swords in his six arms soon unleashed different ultimate techniques.

Crescent Eternal Tyrant Dragon Wave

Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara

Violet Shadow Phantom Blade Dance

Soaring Origin Spirit Jade

Explosive Light Annihilation Sword

Asura Heaven-Shatterer

Just as that instant passed—

[Grraaah!!]

The Fire Dragon True Person's eyes widened as the six radiant ultimate arts linked into a storm of unstoppable force. She summoned the Fire Dragon's power, clashing head-on, the sky warped, nearly seas dried up, and dozens of eerie whirlwinds spawned.

CRACK

Her barrier cracked—insufficient alone. The Divine Merit Tablet cast a spell, barely holding as they were blasted back.

They'd matched power evenly in the clash, but it proved the Fire Dragon True Person alone couldn't overcome Asura's true form. Puzzled, she said,

[You're an incarnation of Changhil, a divine being—why...?]

[Wondering why I don't fight mainly with divine authority?]

Asura laughed heartily.

[Hahaha! I love fighting with martial arts, so for millennia in the Indian subcontinent, I battled countless foes, honing my skills to become its martial overlord. The Absolute Realm's intent has its merits; no rule says I must use only authority, right?]

Indeed.

What Asura had just shown was the ultimate stage of martial learning—the Absolute Realm!!

Silent Annihilation Infinity let him unleash condensed ultimate or killing arts at once. He'd just produced six times the full power of an Absolute Realm master's assault.

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