Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The final seal!

That much I had already anticipated. The power I used to release Shin Gonggyo's seal had unraveled eighty percent of the tightly wound threads, but the remaining twenty percent was bound so firmly that I couldn't touch it recklessly. It had to be the "true seal" that the Supreme Old Lord—one of the Three Pure Ones of the Heavenly Realm—had poured his true energy into when sealing the Absolute Sect Leader Shin Gonggyo.

And because of that seal, Shin Gonggyo had no choice but to follow my lead, even as he glared at me like he wanted to kill me. He had bluffed that it would naturally come undone with time, but if that were the case, he wouldn't have needed to obey me at all.

'I can't release it!'

The power required would exceed at least twenty years' worth of Yin God Power. And even if I did, it was doubtful whether Shin Gonggyo would actually help me afterward. It was far more likely that he'd abandon me and return to the mortal world alone rather than fight the Six of the Eight Heavenly Divisions. After running all the calculations, I declared firmly.

"Absolutely not! Why the hell should I?"

I had already consumed a good amount of Yin God Power. Most of what I'd gained in this regression had gone into partially unsealing Shin Gonggyo, equivalent to losing an entire lifetime. Spending another twenty-plus years' worth on top of that would be a waste of everything I'd built up so far. It would be several times better to just kill myself and start the next regression.

Unlike the one-time spells of the Baleul Star, Yin God Power accumulated steadily through lifetimes. In a way, it was far more precious than Baleul Star spells, so I couldn't squander it recklessly anymore.

[Heh, so what do you plan to do in this situation?]

"......"

[For the record, I won't use the Ruyi Staff's extension ability. Not until you grant my request.]

Should I kill myself?

Even if there was a safe spot thirty or forty li away, considering the divine abilities of the Eight Heavenly Divisions, it was only a matter of time before they caught up. And there was no real way to escape.

'But killing myself feels like such a waste...'

Pinpointing Toyo's exact location was a huge achievement. Was there really nothing to show for dying like this?

At least I needed to return to the mortal world to break even.

As I hesitated, Shin Gonggyo spoke.

[I promise. Release my seal, and I'll stop those guys. So...]

"I can't trust your promises."

[What?]

"We'll talk after you give it your all first!"

I had no choice but to resort to my final trump card. Things had come to this point, so it should be fine to use it.

'I never imagined I'd use it for escape instead of combat.'

I pulled the Zhuge Talisman from my throat pouch and commanded it.

"Zhuge Talisman! Cast the Immortal Summoning spell and share your life force with me!"

"Understood."

Woong.

As the Zhuge Talisman cast the spell, a white circle appeared above my forehead and the talisman's, slowly seeping into our bodies. At the same time, I felt the energy in my body sink sharply, my body growing immensely heavy. The talisman seemed to feel the same.

Shin Gonggyo, watching from the side, smirked.

[An interesting idea. A spell created by some later-generation grand sorcerer? But I wonder how long a human body can endure that burden.]

"Shut up..."

[It probably requires both caster and target to have reached the realm of masters for it to even work.]

As expected, the guy had instantly grasped the spell's essence with his talent for chaos. My body was under tremendous strain, my head feeling like it might split open, but I forced strength into my limbs.

Kikikik.

My joints ached and creaked, but vitality gradually returned to my body. Proof that it was adapting to the Immortal Summoning spell.

'I can only use it for one shichen.'

But that would be enough.

I pressed the vital acupoints on the Zhuge Talisman's body to draw out greater power and stabilize myself. After a deep breath, I widened my eyes and drew a golden needle from my bosom.

Pabat!

The most vicious secret art of the Hua Clan, passed down only to the family head and direct heirs, unfolded.

"I activate Great Net Annihilation."

Certain Annihilation Single Light!

Kugugung!!

The next moment, I levitated my body alongside the talisman, expending all my inner energy to open the Eight Gates Escape Armor throughout my body. Not just my body, but the talisman's as well—thanks to Great Net Annihilation—all eight gates were flung open, and our physical abilities exploded in an instant. Feeling godlike power surging through me, I thought.

'As expected, dozens of times stronger than before.'

Great Net Annihilation's effects scaled with the user's base abilities. Since I was far stronger now than when I was at peak expert level back then, its power had grown accordingly. Drawing out every ounce of strength in my body, I shouted.

"Follow me!!"

Kwang!

With one push off the ground, I knew I was moving at a speed beyond even the maximum extension of the Ruyi Staff from before—an unbelievable velocity.

One Step, Mountain View!

In a single stride, I leaped over three mountain peaks. I'd long surpassed the speed of sound, reaching dozens of times beyond. At this acceleration, my mere movement would likely whip up a storm.

Kwagwang.

I could sense the Zhuge Talisman following beside me. Pushing Great Net Annihilation to the brink as I ran, I thought.

'What do I do when I reach the sea?'

I'll worry about that then.

For now, I committed to running. It was the best I could do in this situation.

"Uwaaah!!"

Kwagwang.

If a low hill or cliff appeared mid-run, I didn't dodge—I slammed straight through with my body. My body was tougher, so I shattered the cliff itself and pressed on mercilessly.

Kwagwagwang.

Explosions chained together with my speed. Accelerating to speeds impossible for any living being, I felt my strength draining from my entire body. But just as the eight gates began to close, the spell activated.

Life Force Sharing!

At that instant, power from the talisman's body flowed into me, sustaining Great Net Annihilation. Still feeling plenty of reserve, I ran like a madman.

How far did I go?

I realized I'd covered thousands of li and arrived somewhere. That had been exactly one shichen. Feeling the great technique gradually fade, I collapsed as if fainting.

Plop.

"The seaside..."

Fortunately, I hadn't crossed the ocean.

Even so, had I traversed this entire Dark Heaven Village in one Great Net Annihilation?

I felt my eight gates closing slowly and steadily as I panted for breath. The Zhuge Talisman rested beside me, doing the same. Shin Gonggyo spoke with interest.

[Impressive. Using limited immortality and life force sharing to sustain what should be a fatal super-enhancement technique? Quite a creative concept.]

"......"

[The spell's purpose must be to extend the duration of enhancement techniques.]

"You're smart, so let me rest..."

I sighed. Everything he said was spot on.

That's right.

A spell that temporarily turns the body immortal!

And life force sharing!

By combining these two advanced spells, it was possible to elevate Great Net Annihilation—which normally lasted only half a geng and inevitably killed the user afterward—into a true ultimate technique. Immortal Summoning made the body immortal for one shichen, extending Great Net Annihilation's duration. Sharing life force with a super peak expert like the Zhuge Talisman reduced exhaustion risk and boosted stability. With two lives sharing the load, the consumption rate dropped dramatically.

Of course, casting these two supreme spells simultaneously was only possible for a sorcerer at the highest realm, impossible for me alone. But by turning the Zhuge Talisman into a puppet to cast it instead, I'd solved that too.

The creator of this spell was Zhuge Sa. He thought it a waste to limit Great Net Annihilation to a suicide technique and wanted to perfect it even through loopholes, resulting in this bizarre composite spell premised on the [puppetized Zhuge Talisman].

This extended Great Net Annihilation from half a geng to one shichen, effectively adding another ultimate counter for powerful foes in emergencies.

'I originally planned to use it to assassinate the White Lotus Cult Leader... not for escape.'

Zhuge Sa had proposed that the talisman and I simultaneously activate Great Net Annihilation to amplify our power—I'd pressure the leader from the front while it struck from the side.

Normally, just the two of us couldn't defeat the leader, but amplifying our power tenfold or more with Great Net Annihilation changed everything. That level of strength could assassinate the early leader with room to spare. Even with a guardian beast beside him, I was confident we could take it out too.

The reason only we two would go was that Great Net Annihilation relied on raw power over skill, making it hard to distinguish friend from foe—likely to just get in the way.

But things had twisted so badly that this exquisite spell ended up used merely to flee from the Eight Heavenly Divisions. Still, running for one shichen and crossing the continent was incredibly effective.

As I rested, Shin Gonggyo spoke in a strange tone.

[That brainwashed puppet guy doesn't seem that important to you, huh?]

"What are you talking about?"

[The spell looks complete at a glance, but it comes at a huge cost to the caster. Just now, that caster's lifespan got shaved off by at least twenty years.]

"......"

I didn't respond. But he had hit the nail on the head.

'The reason I can't ask comrades to use the Great Net Annihilation extension composite spell...'

At first glance, using two supreme spells to extend Great Net Annihilation seemed perfect, but it wasn't. Sharing life force to maintain immortality, then opening the eight gates with Great Net Annihilation, massively drained the caster's vitality. As Shin Gonggyo had just said, it cost the Zhuge Talisman twenty years of life—a restriction severe enough to label it forbidden sorcery.

That's right—this wasn't normal sorcery. It was forbidden.

That's why I had to burden a guy I didn't even consider a comrade. I lacked the shame to ask Mangyang or Cheon Ujin to cast it. They might agree, but asking them to expend their one-and-only life was something I couldn't bring myself to say.

[So he's someone you hate enough to kill, huh?]

Shin Gonggyo's words stung my conscience.

I couldn't definitively say the talisman deserved it that much.

In a way, I was using him for convenience too, but after hesitating, I replied.

"...This guy knew ordinary people were being tormented but sided with injustice anyway. He never gave a damn about others' feelings. He even indirectly aided human sacrifices."

[Sounds like an excuse. Heh... Does that make it okay for you to puppet him? Seems like a separate issue.]

"......"

[Isn't it just the great evil tormenting the petty evil?]

I growled.

"Don't spout off just because you have a mouth. There's context."

Shin Gonggyo laughed.

[In the end, you're just judging good and evil by your own standards. How about embracing the law of the jungle more honestly?]

"You calling me a hypocrite?"

[If everyone accepted your brand of 'good,' I'd be wrong...]

"Damn it."

I shook my head. Getting swayed by his words would just complicate my mind.

'This isn't the time for debates.'

I wasn't necessarily right, but I knew he just wanted to torment me verbally. Having experienced this with Zhuge Sa before, I quickly regained my composure.

"Shin Gonggyo. Let's make a deal."

[What kind?]

"I can't release the final seal with Yin God Power. This power is precious to me too—I can't use more. But if we return to the mortal world, there might be a way..."

[So cooperate with you until then?]

"Yeah."

Shin Gonggyo scoffed.

[Hmph! Now I can't trust you. What if you use me to get back to the mortal world and then seal me even stronger?]

"......"

[I'm not backing off my initial condition. If you don't release the seal, I won't help at all.]

It was then.

Fwoosh!!

The spirit body of Fire Dragon True Person emerged from the Fire Dragon Divine Sword. Arms crossed, she said.

[Absolute Sect Leader Shin Gonggyo. If you keep being stubborn, we'll all get captured by the Eight Heavenly Divisions and become slaves to the Spear Emperor. You know that.]

Shin Gonggyo twitched his brow, clearly annoyed by her.

[Don't act so superior. You gonna worry about that too?]

[I'm saying there's a way for all us to survive, so why be pigheaded?]

[Heh! Then prove it. Swear on your existence that you'll keep that promise.]

Shin Gonggyo sneered mockingly.

[You can't even make that promise, yet expect us to trust you? Ridiculous.]

[So what do you want?]

[Release my seal. That's what I've been saying.]

The atmosphere turned murderous.

Shin Gonggyo had no intention of yielding on the seal release.

But using power on his seal now risked betrayal from him, leaving us in a deadlock.

After thinking for a while, I steeled myself and said.

"Fine. Screw the seal and all that."

[What?]

I drew the tribute from my throat pouch and said.

"This is Dark Heaven Village, so I'll offer this to the [former ruler] nearby and ask to be sent back to the mortal world. Easiest way, right?"

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