Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I examined the remains of the dead Asura after the battle was over. His skin and body appeared like those of a living creature at a glance, but upon closer inspection, their toughness was far beyond human limits. Even when I tested it with qi, it didn't cut easily with sword aura, which is the crystallization of intent and possesses immense cutting power. I had to unleash lightning strikes to barely slice through it.

If his corpse was this durable, then in life, with gathered qi to bolster his defenses, it would have been utterly invincible. No human master could have damaged it without supreme ultimate martial arts. The Eightfold Divine Chong surpassed mere humans by leaps and bounds with pure physical prowess alone.

"Perhaps..."

I decided to try using the Soul Extraction Great Law to draw out the Asura's soul from its corpse. The moment I pulled out its soul and began tugging it toward me—

Graaaah!!

A ferocious energy suddenly erupted from its soul, going berserk and severing the pulling force of the Soul Extraction Great Law. I exerted myself to the utmost to maintain the pull, but as expected of one of the Eightfold Divine Chong, its power was no joke. Then, soul and all, it flew off somewhere.

"Damn it!"

I hurriedly tried to summon it back with the Heavenly Divine Scripture's techniques, but I felt dismay once more.

It wasn't just a matter of whether I could pull the Asura's soul or not. Unlike the mortal world, in Dark Heaven Village, the Heavenly Divine Scripture's techniques wouldn't even activate at all. Since this had never happened before, I could only watch helplessly as the Asura's soul flew away.

There was nothing more to see from the empty husk of a corpse. As I stood there dazed, Shin Gonggyo spoke.

[ A technique to summon a human soul. Is that the Radiant Star Lord's sorcery? ]

"......"

It was probably from witnessing the Heavenly Divine Scripture's spells.

I turned my head toward Shin Gonggyo's spirit form. As I kept my mouth firmly shut, Shin Gonggyo continued.

[ I'm asking if it's the Radiant Star Lord's sorcery. ]

"How did you know?"

[ I could see the flow that only the Radiant Star Lord could weave. Even spells from the Divine Era are more than enough for me to grasp. ]

Come to think of it, Shin Gonggyo had the chaotic talent of recognizing any sorcery at a glance. As I inwardly stuck out my tongue in admiration, Shin Gonggyo said,

[ What did you mean earlier when you called yourself a reincarnator? ]

"That's a sudden barrage of questions."

[ Answer me. ]

I thought for a moment before replying.

"I don't know the details, but I've died and come back to life once. Whether it's resurrection or whatever, after reviving, I've been using that experience to oppose the gods. Along the way, I'm gathering allies."

[ Hoo, resurrection... ]

"It might be because I mastered the Soul Extraction Great Law to reclaim souls. I don't know if I can revive again. So I'm always prepared for it."

My heart pounded inwardly. Could I fool this guy?

Just moments ago, facing the Asura, I'd thought victory impossible and spat out what I wanted in my dying moments. But now I knew Shin Gonggyo might be stronger than it. If he learned the truth of my reincarnation ability in this situation and tried to seize it, I'd be in real trouble.

So I reframed calling myself a reincarnator as having "once" died and revived, twisting it into a meaning of resurrection. With this, he surely wouldn't suspect I'd died and returned dozens of times.

Shin Gonggyo pondered deeply before speaking.

[ Fine, whatever. We'll hear the details later. For now, find a place to hide. ]

Thud.

The moment I heard Shin Gonggyo's words, my strength suddenly drained from my body, and I collapsed. It wasn't that Shin Gonggyo attacked me; the brief clash earlier when Fire Dragon True Man descended had consumed so much stamina and qi that I'd collapsed from exhaustion. Even so, compared to my tenth or so regression where I would've withered away without lasting till the end, this was decent.

"Ugh... damn it. First, some meditation to circulate qi..."

[ No time for that. [Ancient Rulers] are sensing it from all directions and approaching out of curiosity. ]

"...How many?"

[ At least five. ]

"Shit!!"

As expected of Dark Heaven Village? [Ancient Rulers], these death gods, overflowed like weeds on the roadside. And this was just a remote eastern province—yet that clash drew five of them.

No time for meditative qi circulation, not even half an incense stick's worth, judging by Shin Gonggyo's words. Gritting my teeth, I mobilized my scant remaining inner power and desperately unleashed the Soul Annihilation Step with all my might. As I tried to flee this terrain and climb the hill, Shin Gonggyo warned,

[ There's a monster that way. Go elsewhere. ]

"Elsewhere meaning?"

The direction Shin Gonggyo indicated featured sheer cliffs. Massive winds howled through, with crystal-like rocks floating midway—a place where falling would shatter bones to dust. I said incredulously,

"No inner power, and you want me to go there?"

[ Idiot. No inner power? Then use your head. ]

Rumble...

Following Shin Gonggyo's advice, I jammed the Like-Intention Rod into the cliff face, then extended it, swinging through the air like on a rope. While hanging from it, I regulated my breathing and desperately recovered inner power and stamina. Soon after, I reached the opposite cliff. The gap between them was a full 1—truly treacherous terrain.

Even upon arriving at the opposite side, I had no time to rest and kept moving while hiding my body as Shin Gonggyo instructed. After consuming so much stamina that my vision blackened, drenched in sweat, I finally reached what seemed a safe mushroom cave about two hours later.

"Huff... huff..."

[ Seems they've given up now. ]

"They gave up... but this place doesn't look safe either."

A green swamp spread across the cave's interior, eerie walls emanated from within, and it was filled with grotesquely shaped giant mushrooms. No sane person would call this a hiding spot.

[ Exactly. This place's spores are incredibly toxic. An ordinary human inhaling them would sprout mushrooms in their organs within a quarter hour, becoming a pillar as the host for the fungus. ]

Having said that, Shin Gonggyo looked at me curiously.

[ But why are you fine? ]

Fortunate amid misfortune, my body had achieved immunity to all poisons, so even parasitic spores couldn't take root. It blocked poisoning and parasitism at the source. Slightly recovered inner power helped too. I let out a deep sigh.

"...Got a problem with that? Sorry for being fine."

[ Recover your stamina quickly. There's a higher tribe member inside raising those mushrooms. Before it notices. ]

"Higher tribe? What's that?"

[ Looks like a demonic sorcerer proficient in dark arts. Probably on par with Great Luo Immortals. ]

"......"

Even a higher tribe hiding in this remote cave was Great Luo Immortal level?

Gritting my teeth, I desperately recovered my inner power. After about an hour, I finally felt alive, but then Shin Gonggyo warned the higher tribe was approaching, forcing me outside. With Shin Gonggyo's help, I could win, but he seemed reluctant to clash with local monsters too.

Emerging to the surface, I said,

"Shin Gonggyo. Any way to find the Lateral Heaven Martial Marquis's palace?"

[ Why ask me? ]

"Because without the National Seal, I have no way to find it myself."

[ Don't brag about your incompetence. ]

"......"

After coldly rebuking me, Shin Gonggyo continued.

[ This is a world steeped in ultimate demonic qi. Bumbling around clumsily or gathering info like in the human realm is impossible. Realistically, you'd be best off slitting your throat. But I have a way. ]

"What way?"

[ Before I teach you, make a pact with me. ]

"Pact?"

Shin Gonggyo grinned ominously.

[ Find the Toyo Eight Trigrams Chart and hand it to me. Declare that as the pact, and I'll help you find the palace. ]

"......!"

As I thought!

"This guy's been after the Toyo Eight Trigrams Chart!"

As the legendary ancient Heaven-Penetrating Cult Leader, he knew well the power and truth of the Seven Luminaries! He was surely convinced that obtaining Toyo would grant him power to rule the world.

I had no choice now. Without Shin Gonggyo's help, even fully recovered, I'd just get eaten or toyed with by passing [Ancient Rulers]. But even so, could I hand over Toyo—the very purpose of coming to Dark Heaven Village—to him?

After agonizing, I said,

"...Fine. If I get Toyo, I'll give it to you, Shin Gonggyo. But I have one condition too."

[ Cheeky bastard. What condition? ]

"Whatever you do with Toyo is your business, so help me return to reality from Dark Heaven Village. That's the condition."

[ Why should I agree to that? ]

"Then I won't agree either."

I locked eyes with Shin Gonggyo for a while.

Roooear

"Ugh... damn it..."

His energy was too overwhelming! I couldn't hold her gaze long due to the immense killing intent and dominance in Shin Gonggyo's eyes. Her aura was enough to make me forget she was a peerless beauty and cover, even after traveling far and meeting many heroes.

Right then, Fire Dragon True Man descended to bolster me. With the Dragon King's aura aiding, I could finally compete in presence with Shin Gonggyo.

After glaring at me with blazing eyes for a long time, Shin Gonggyo said,

[ Fine. If your goal is to survive and escape Dark Heaven Village, I'll do that. ]

"Thanks."

[ Then yield your body to me. ]

"Huh?"

[ The Like-Intention Rod still has the final chain binding my spirit. As long as it's there, I can't use my full power. Lend your body as a medium so I can cast the spell. ]

"What spell are you planning?"

[ Shut up. Give me your body first! ]

"......"

Shin Gonggyo seemed too annoyed for lengthy explanations. With no choice, I yielded my body to her.

Hummm

The moment Shin Gonggyo descended, she thrust both palms forward and shouted.

[ Roar of Heaven-Penetrating!! ]

Infinite spiraling beams shot from her palms. Like before, the light kept expanding until it seemed to encompass all visible space. Shin Gonggyo held her palms extended for a while, then muttered.

[ Toyo is over there. ]

Flash!

In the next instant, Shin Gonggyo had moved my body to a massive palace.

Rumble...

An enormously grand palace.

It spanned hundreds of stories, and looking down from above, its grounds stretched dozens of li. Countless tribe members roamed the grounds, resembling a human city.

Built not in tribal style but clearly in ancient Tang Dynasty architecture, it was instantly recognizable as the Lateral Heaven Martial Marquis's palace. Watching from within, I exclaimed in shock.

[ What? How with one spell... ]

[ The Heaven-Penetrating Roar, exclusive to the Heaven-Penetrating Cult Leader, can scout even the moon. Scanning Dark Heaven Village is trivial. ]

[...... ]

Too cheat-like. One spell to search the entire world!

'Is this why Shin Gonggyo could wage war against the Three Pure Ones and Heaven?'

As I thought various things, Shin Gonggyo strode inside without hesitation. Then, snake-like humans slithered out from the palace pillars' shadows, each wielding tridents. One snake-human thrust a trident toward me and said.

[ Who are you? This is the great one's resting place. ]

At that, Shin Gonggyo just sneered disdainfully. Then she said.

[ You changed human bodies into tribal forms so they could adapt to Dark Heaven Village? Preserving their human souls intact shows you cared quite a bit. ]

[ Who are you! ]

[ Heh heh heh... ]

Shin Gonggyo extended a finger forward.

Realizing she meant to massacre the snake-humans in one blow, I urgently cried out from within.

[ Stop!! ]

[ Shut it. ]

[ I can't! Don't slaughter them!! ]

I screamed like a banshee.

[ The tribe members in this palace were all Tang Dynasty people in life!! ]

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!