Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Thud.

The moment we dropped into the real world, the Nine Heavens Maiden spoke to Shin Gonggyo.

[Wait. I have something to say.]

Swoosh...

The two of us plummeted from the sky and landed on the ground, but I had no idea where this place was. It probably wasn't the Central Plains, since the trees nearby looked completely unfamiliar. Still, just the fact that it wasn't filled with the vile, demonic energy of Dark Heaven Village was a relief.

Shin Gonggyo said,

[My pact with Baek Woong is over. What, you want to extend the contract?]

The Nine Heavens Maiden shook her head at the sneering Shin Gonggyo.

[Hmm... what scheme now.]

Shin Gonggyo snorted and nodded. Then I felt the Nine Heavens Maiden release her possession and return control of my body to me. The instant I regained control, I glared at Shin Gonggyo and said,

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

[I knew you'd say that. But you think I'll listen?]

"Ah..."

[Parum Seal.]

Whirr.

Boom!

Suddenly, a bizarre white seal appeared above my head and exploded. The attack was so abrupt I couldn't dodge properly, but in that moment, it felt like the Nine Heavens Maiden's spirit blocked it for me. Manifesting her spirit form, she glared at Shin Gonggyo.

[You use a lethal technique without even hearing him out? Are you insane?]

[You're still hanging around...]

[Cut it out. If you keep this up, I'll use every death-sealing spell I have and seal you away for eternity.]

Flinch!

Shin Gonggyo seemed startled by the Nine Heavens Maiden's murderous threat. As if he hadn't expected her to go that far, he let out an incredulous laugh.

[You're joking, right? You, with your full power restored, have so much to do--why waste it on me?]

[I don't joke. You know that.]

[...]

[I warned you.]

Shin Gonggyo's expression darkened. He must have realized it would be a hassle if she was serious about sealing him. With a resigned tone, she said to me,

[Fine. Tell me about this deal. I'll hear you out.]

Finally, we'd reached a point where we could talk. But thinking about how much effort it had taken to get here left me inwardly exasperated.

'I had to write a novel to appease the Great Sage Equals Heaven, import a top-grade printing press from the Western Regions to make it popular, go to Dark Heaven Village to unseal the Ruyi Jingu Bang, expend my yin spirit power, and offer up Su Yo to the Nine Heavens Maiden... and now I can finally negotiate properly with Shin Gonggyo?'

Could I do the same in my next life?

...No way. I could roughly replicate the process, but I had no confidence in controlling Shin Gonggyo. This time, the Nine Heavens Maiden's possession of Su Yo had served as a restraint--otherwise, this wouldn't have been an option. I got lucky, that's all. Repeating it would be incredibly hard. And I'd permanently expended my yin spirit power on top of that?

That's why I steeled myself, focusing all my nerves on this negotiation. I'd squeeze every advantage I could.

"Shin Gonggyo, listen up. What do you think it means that the Nine Heavens Maiden now possesses Su Yo in its liberated state? You liberated Su Yo in Dark Heaven Village."

[...Hmm, I see.]

As expected of a grand sorcerer, Shin Gonggyo grasped my point immediately.

[You're saying that Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' attendant Jeon Uk--or some related ruler--will use Su Yo's liberation as an excuse to interfere in this world?]

"Exactly. You get it."

This was our biggest crisis upon returning to reality.

The liberation of Su Yo!

Originally, there were three ways to liberate the Seven Yo.

The first was through a proper unsealing ritual. The second was deliberately feeding them blood and sacrifices to recharge their power. The last was a mighty divine being forcibly infusing power to shatter the seal. In past lives, I'd tried the first two methods myself, and Gonggong had tried the last, so I was well-versed in all ways to liberate the Seven Yo.

However, a Seven Yo not liberated through a proper unsealing ritual always had side effects. One fed with blood and offerings resulted in the [Ancient Ruler] descending and taking over my body. Forcibly shattering the seal alerted Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' Niwa immediately, causing chaos.

In this case, Shin Gonggyo had forcibly liberated it without following procedure using his own power--the third scenario. This greatly increased the chance of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' directly seizing karmic ties to intervene. Now that we'd returned to reality, we were in extreme danger. It was only a matter of time before Jeon Uk, most closely tied to Su Yo, or the North Pole's [Ancient Ruler] barged in.

Seeing Shin Gonggyo's interest piqued, I continued.

"The Nine Heavens Maiden is currently using her death-sealing spells to conceal Su Yo's liberated presence. But she can't hide it forever. Eventually, Jeon Uk or one of the other Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors will notice."

[What's your point?]

"We're all riding a tiger now. We either ride it to the end or get thrown off midway--no other choice."

[...You want my help acquiring the Seven Yo.]

"Yeah."

I nodded and pressed on.

"This isn't unrelated to you, Shin Gonggyo. Even if you regain a body and break your seal, your ultimate enemy--once you reclaim the Absolute Cave--isn't the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors? Since you'll face them eventually, isn't it smart to plan countermeasures now?"

[Insolent fool, don't presume to dictate my goals.]

"Then where were you planning to run off to from us? Back to the other world, Golden Nest Isle, unseal the Monkey, rally the Ten Heavenly Legions, and reclaim the Absolute Cave--obvious, right?"

[...]

"But even rallying your defeated remnants now--think you can beat even one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors? Like an egg against a rock."

[Quit twisting words and spit it out straight.]

Shin Gonggyo said with an irritated look.

[So you want an alliance.]

"Right. What do you think?"

[...Depends on the terms. First and foremost, the whereabouts of the other Seven Yo.]

Looking down at me arrogantly, she said,

[Do you know where the other Seven Yo are? If not, not even worth discussing.]

I grinned and replied,

"I do!"

[I won't forgive lies.]

"You think anyone knows more about the Seven Yo than me? I tracked down To Yo and went all the way to the other world's Dark Heaven Village. Even found the palace of the Lateral Heaven Martial Emperor."

[...Hmph.]

My confident response seemed convincing; Shin Gonggyo let out a grunt. I drove the point home.

"We gather the Seven Yo together, keep them in their sealed state for now. Then, at the right moment, unseal them all at once and use the surge from all six remaining Yo's liberation to ascend to the Pantheon of Myriad Gods."

[You really intend to meet Emperor Gong Sunhewon?]

"Why not? Easier than fighting the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, right?"

[True enough.]

I stepped forward boldly.

[Urk!]

Shin Gonggyo flinched in surprise as I extended my hand to her.

"Let's join hands. Everyone has limits alone, and now's the time to pool strength against the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. You waged the War of the Sealed Gods back then over something unacceptable too, didn't you?"

[...]

Shin Gonggyo fell silent for a long while.

Then she shook her head.

[Still no.]

"Why?"

She sighed.

[Your judgment and ideas are plausible, but with your own power so weak, how can I trust you? The Nine Heavens Maiden's possession relies on her immense restored strength, but she'll have to return to the heavens soon. Even wielding the Fire Dragon Divine Sword and Dragon King's power, you're not worth a single combat immortal.]

"Urk..."

[And you and the Nine Heavens Maiden aren't even fully aligned.]

"If our goals match, isn't that enough?"

[Absolutely not. This world runs on power and violence, not pretty words.]

Shin Gonggyo turned her head sharply and continued.

[But worth hearing out.]

"So what's your proposal?"

She pointed at me.

[Meet again in seven days and nights. Show me power worthy of an ally--without the Nine Heavens Maiden's help--and I'll ally with you.]

"You're coming to my base?"

[That much, yes.]

Whumm.

[See you then. I've handed over control of the Ruyi Jingu Bang.]

Her form blurred like heat haze and vanished. She'd gone somewhere, and the Nine Heavens Maiden had left her lower without fighting a soul. Her spirit appeared beside me.

[Baek Woong, returning the Ruyi Jingu Bang means Shin Gonggyo's leaning toward alliance.]

Could be, but probably because she now wielded power rendering the staff meaningless. Reclaiming command of the Golden Nest's Fifty Heavenly Legions and the Absolute Cave's leadership would let her wield countless treasures freely--might just be charity.

That's what made it sting more.

"Haa... Couldn't convince her in one go. She could've been huge help unsealing Fire Yo or Metal Yo."

I sighed. I'd hoped to persuade her instantly and head straight for the other Seven Yo's seals. With her aid, we could've gathered them as swiftly as in Gonggong's time--but no such luck. Of course, I'd discuss with my strategists, but this was the best option I could think of now.

The Nine Heavens Maiden said,

[Baek Woong, will you come with me to the heavens?]

"Huh?"

[As Shin Gonggyo said, you're strong for a human but weak by celestial standards. I might be able to infuse you with power and make you stronger.]

"Ooh!"

My face lit up as I shouted,

"Let's go right now! Give me some power..."

But the next instant, she spoke as if realizing something.

[Ah... no, can't do that. Hiding Su Yo's presence takes too much power--infusing you might alert the Queen Mother of the West immediately.]

[...]

Then don't offer in the first place!

I felt awkward but soon thought of something and said to her,

"Then... at least let me use the Immortal Sword Art freely? I've held back till now out of concern for you."

The Nine Heavens Maiden nodded.

[That much, yes... Baek Woong, do you know what the Immortal Sword Art is?]

"It forges an immortal into a single sword and severs ties to the heavens, evading surveillance."

Fire Dragon Immortal never taught Yeo Dongbin the Immortal Sword Art, but he knows Yeo Dongbin learned it from you.

Another piece of info lingered on my tongue, but it might raise suspicion, so I held back.

[Impressive... how do you know that? It's my unique spell.]

"Please don't ask."

She seemed convinced by my evasive reply.

[I look forward to hearing it from you someday.]

"I'm sorry."

I couldn't share memories with the Nine Heavens Maiden yet. Had to consider if she ever got captured and defeated. I'd already seen Shin Seung and Myeong Ryongga nearly spill everything when caught by the White Lotus Cult--had to be cautious.

[Beyond what you know, the Immortal Sword Art has one more function.]

"What's that?"

[Accumulating karma.]

"Karma accumulation?"

Tilting my head, I prompted her, and she explained.

[The Immortal Sword Art gathers the cutter's karma and deeds, condensing them into an immortal sword. Includes techniques and experience. That's why it can transform a formless spirit immortal into a 'sword' or other object.]

"Ah..."

[In other words, it's an auxiliary vessel for a great immortal to store spare power. They forge their own immortal sword and accumulate karma within.]

I understood.

That's why I could use Yeo Dongbin's Moonlight Projection when I wielded the Immortal Sword Art!

The sword must have condensed a combat immortal's battle experience itself. But back then, Yeo Dongbin himself became the sword, making it possible. My current Immortal Sword lacked such solid karma records, so I couldn't draw extra power.

"The more karma accumulated, the stronger it gets?"

[Theoretically, yes. But...]

The Nine Heavens Maiden smiled bitterly.

[I created the Immortal Sword Art and taught it to Yeo Dongbin, but he's definitely an odd one.]

"Why?"

[Theoretically, it's a way for a great immortal hitting growth limits to break through. But to properly accumulate karma in the sword for dramatic growth takes immense time. For example, for Yeo Dongbin to gain one step more power than now, it'd take at least five or six hundred years of nonstop training. To reach top-tier great immortal level... over three thousand years.]

[...]

[I know Yeo Dongbin has greatly advanced his combat skills beyond his mortal days through a thousand years of rigorous training. He's practiced the Immortal Sword Art for ages.]

"I see."

[And both he and I know the apocalypse is less than five hundred years away. So sometimes I can't understand why a great immortal like him trains so harshly. Even I, its creator, rarely use it--making Yeo Dongbin the only real practitioner.]

It was odd, for sure.

Five or six hundred years for one step up, three thousand for top-tier? Seemed shot for near-immortal great immortals--but the problem was the world's impending end. Even one step wouldn't solve anything, yet Yeo Dongbin had been accumulating battle experience and refining his Immortal Sword realm for a thousand straight years.

What was Yeo Dongbin thinking?

'Huh? Something feels off...'

The Nine Heavens Maiden's prediction clashed with some info I'd obtained, but I couldn't pinpoint it now. I let it slide and said to her,

"Anyway, release the Immortal Sword's restrictions."

[So be it. From now on, you can use the Immortal Sword Art freely and accumulate battle experience within it. This is the Nine Heavens Maiden's blessing.]

Flash!

Light surged through my body, and the prickly pressure in my heart--like a thorn embedded there--vanished.

'Does this make me an Immortal Sword Art user too?'

With her own blessing bestowed, she couldn't fuss over my use anymore. Karmically, she couldn't interfere or obstruct. And the thrill of wielding my own unique Immortal Sword Art, distinct from Yeo Dongbin's, made my heart race.

The Nine Heavens Maiden said,

[Baek Woong, let's go to your comrades. To fight the Queen Mother of the West, I need your help too.]

"Understood."

A provisional alliance with the Nine Heavens Maiden!

In this life, I'd lost the National Jade Seal, yin spirit power, and Bi Deung--but gained a massive ally in return.

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