Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Under a tacit agreement, they bustled about with their "preparations." They didn't know when the Eight Guardians would attack, but with the God City's God Altar Tree deploying a barrier as the World Tree, they could buy at least half a shichen no matter the situation.

The White Lotus Cult Leader gathered the followers he had brought outside the God City and began some kind of magical ritual, while the Twelve Laws Lord vanished somewhere like a shadow, declaring he would release the Seven Wants.

And so, Zhuge Sa's group ended up receiving martial arts instruction from Miyamoto Musashi. It had been part of the deal for Musashi to impart his teachings in exchange for the anti-Imperialist stance.

Musashi glanced over the assembled martial artists with a sweeping look and spoke.

"You there."

His gaze fell on Jin So-cheong. Musashi said sharply,

"I don't particularly want to teach you. Get out."

"Why is that?"

'Jin So-cheong is no different from his rival. He doesn't want to reveal his secrets to someone who'll be his greatest foe in the future?'

In other words, Jin So-cheong was already at a level where he could cross blades evenly with Miyamoto Musashi, meaning he was a supreme expert vying for supremacy in the world.

That realization made Gok Ho sigh inwardly.

Gok Ho's current skill had long surpassed the leaders of the Nine Great Sects, and his martial arts had advanced to a point incomparable to Baek Woong's early reincarnations.

Honestly, even Gok Ho himself hadn't expected to reach this level, so he brimmed with inner confidence. That was how tremendous a fortuitous encounter the transmission of Baek Woong's memories—including the Seven Great Ultimate Arts and the Eight Immortal Divine Skills—had been.

But even Gok Ho or the Sword Demon didn't measure up in the eyes of the current strongest swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. Though it stung his pride a bit, another thought struck him, and he glanced at the Sword Demon beside him.

If Gok Ho could accept it, what about the Sword Demon—lord of the Eight Demonic Sects and hailed as the supreme demonic expert? Wouldn't he feel immense humiliation?

'No flicker of emotion...'

Gok Ho let out a low groan. He sensed no disturbance on the Sword Demon's face; instead, there was fierce enthusiasm. Pride or self-esteem as a martial artist—such things seemed irrelevant to the current Sword Demon. Gok Ho thought his vessel was indeed on another level.

The Sword Demon spoke.

"Jin So-cheong, train on your own. The rest of us want to receive your esteemed martial arts."

"Do so."

"Hmph, no choice then."

Having received the order to leave, Jin So-cheong turned and exited the training ground. He seemed to regret it, having wanted to witness Musashi's absolute realm, but there was nothing for it.

A moment later, Musashi spoke.

"A martial artist's true worth is only known by clashing swords."

"Are you suggesting a spar?"

"Come at me with killing intent if you like."

"Fine."

Pa-at!

In an instant, Baek Woong's group surrounded Musashi, forming an encirclement. The Sword Demon, Gok Ho, Cheong Wol, and Myeong Yong-ja formed the array, and Musashi slowly placed his hand on his waist amid their positions covering all directions.

Jureuk.

Cheong Wol, elder of the Thunder God Style, sweated profusely on his forehead. Just facing the opponent made him feel his entire body's internal energy suppressed by the grand sword master's aura. The mere clash of wills exerting such profound influence on reality proved the foe was a supreme expert in the absolute realm.

'No less than the Cult Leader...'

He had once witnessed the White Lotus Cult Leader personally act during the Thunder God Style's downfall. Back then, several Thunder God Style experts in the Heavenly Thunder Realm had counterattacked, slaying many high experts, prompting the Cult Leader to intervene. Those Heavenly Thunder Realm experts resisted but were ultimately slain by Cult Leader Dugok Uncheon. Having watched from start to finish, Cheong Wol knew how nightmarishly profound the Cult Leader's skill was.

Yet the Miyamoto Musashi before him evoked that same Cult Leader. Though he had become Baek Woong's ally, learning the Seven Great Ultimate Arts and raising his martial prowess, Cheong Wol couldn't shake the tension.

'Ah...'

A white dot flew at him.

'What technique is this...?'

No, not a technique.

It was beyond technique—utter swiftness.

Byunk!

It was a fleeting instant. Cheong Wol felt his shoulder blade pierced, followed by three points piercing his head, chest, and abdomen in succession. He tried to react somehow but soon realized it was futile and knelt in place.

Teol-keok!

"......"

He bowed his head. The piercing he felt was an illusion from intent projection, and the three vital points—head, chest, abdomen—weren't real wounds. But Musashi, being in the absolute realm, could turn such illusions into reality at any moment. In this spar, he had merely spared Cheong Wol's life.

'Is this... human swordsmanship...?'

Cheong Wol had thought, as a peak expert with mighty Thunder God Style internal energy, he could at least resist somewhat against the absolute realm. But he now felt that was delusion. Against the ultimate single stroke that cleaved all in one blow, what use was resistance? Without reaching the absolute realm oneself, neither attack nor defense was possible.

Musashi muttered indifferently.

"One down. Get out."

Cheong Wol fled the training ground in shame. The moment he left, Musashi's eyes flashed, targeting Myeong Yong-ja next.

Kka-gang!

"Kuhk!!"

Myeong Yong-ja hurriedly moved his sword to block Musashi's strike. Sword energy exploded in a blaze of light, sending his body flying back, but he had blocked it nonetheless. Unlike Cheong Wol, felled in one blow, Myeong Yong-ja had advanced in the Seven Great Ultimate Arts, allowing defense.

Spotting the Coiling Dragon Strike, Musashi smirked faintly.

"Impressive. What is that technique?"

"Wudang Sect's Seven Great Ultimate Arts—Coiling Dragon Strike!"

Musashi rarely praised.

"Interesting... fine martial art."

He had no choice but to. At a glance, Musashi recognized it as a technique from a generational war god who had reached the absolute realm or beyond. Its creator must have been monstrously strong.

But not my match.

Musashi thought inwardly. Even if Coiling Dragon Strike warped space, he possessed sword arts that could slice through such distortions. A true absolute realm expert using it would be threatening, but Myeong Yong-ja was no match.

Musashi addressed Gok Ho and the Sword Demon behind him.

"Why hesitate? I've shown two openings—why not attack?"

"We're not fools, so don't worry."

Gok Ho replied curtly.

The moments Musashi struck Cheong Wol and Myeong Yong-ja weren't openings. Gok Ho knew it through keen intuition. They appeared as gaps but were real hidden within the feint. The problem: discerning that feint-real boundary was impossible without first piercing Musashi's sword arts.

Ka-gang!!

Next instant, Musashi's strikes swept past Gok Ho and the Sword Demon once each. They felt like a gentle breeze, yet carried tyrannical force to cleave mountains. But Gok Ho and the Sword Demon blocked leisurely, then flanked and pincer-attacked Musashi.

Kka-ang!

When swords clashed again, it was the Sword Demon and Musashi. Musashi smirked oddly and retreated, while the Sword Demon steadied his stiffened stance. Gok Ho, having been kicked flying and fallen, tried to charge again, but Musashi waved him off.

"That'll do. I've gauged your skills."

"Really? In this short time..."

"Bring back the one who left."

When Cheong Wol returned, Musashi said,

"With your varied styles, I can't teach specific techniques or arts in a short time. My swordsmanship lacks fixed forms, making it harder. But from clashing swords, you all show promise."

"What promise?"

"The potential to reach the absolute realm!"

Musashi swept his calm gaze over them and continued.

"Your innate talents alone wouldn't suffice, but those Seven Great Ultimate Arts are ultimate peerless martial arts from one who surpassed superhuman bounds. With your talents, mastering them will get you there eventually."

"We know that. But we hired you to grasp absolute realm clues quickly, didn't we?"

As Gok Ho spoke impatiently, Musashi replied,

"History's martial world birthed countless geniuses and experts, yet why did a minuscule fraction reach this realm?"

"What?"

"Near-mad obsession. All experts have convictions, but only those who forsake all with single-minded devotion... those who would cleave Buddha upon meeting him... only they elevate their 'realm.'"

Gazing at the sky, he said,

"I've thought since childhood: one day, I'll cleave even the divine birds in that sky. My life means nothing; I'll land one strike on the gods."

"......"

Gok Ho fell silent, at a loss.

'It makes sense...'

Normally he'd scoff inwardly at the boasting, but not this. The Miyamoto Musashi before him matched words to deeds. In Baek Woong's reincarnation experiences, Musashi had fought gods without hesitation, results be damned. Even against the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, his battle spirit was remarkable.

The Sword Demon said,

"I understand, but we have our own obsessions. How could any martial artist not crave strength?"

"You lack the overwhelming talent to breakthrough walls like me or that Jin So-cheong. So you must shatter philosophy with madness."

"You have a training method in mind?"

Miyamoto Musashi nodded.

"The million-sword strike training."

Soon, they began training under Musashi's guidance to reach the absolute realm.

Outside, Zhuge Sa met Jin So-cheong and said,

"Kicked out, huh? What now?"

"I'm glad, actually. Even if I reached the absolute realm, I'm just at the entry—unfit to teach. But if Musashi instructs the others..."

Zhuge Sa cut him off irritably.

"Are you an idiot? That's not the point. Musashi's a notch above you—how do you plan to catch up?"

"......"

"That guy's a potential enemy. If things go south, you'll have to cut him down—got it? Make it easier for me to scheme."

"Not sure."

"What?"

Jin So-cheong replied steadily.

"Musashi seems... pure. Not fully aligned with the Laws Lords."

Zhuge Sa was baffled.

"What nonsense? I asked if you can win."

"I sense the worries he carries as a martial artist. Solve them, and we might not need to fight."

"Hmm."

Zhuge Sa's eyes changed.

'Something only experts share?'

Zhuge Sa couldn't fathom it, but Jin So-cheong saw Musashi as no foe. He couldn't ignore Jin So-cheong on martial matters, so he pondered.

Zhuge Sa said,

"Fine. Handle that your way. I need to meet Cheon Woo-jin."

"Speaking of, what happened to Mang-ryang? Why didn't he come?"

"He had business. Low odds of success, so no need for you to know."

Zhuge Sa waved casually and left.

He approached Cheon Woo-jin, meditating on a cliffside, and said abruptly,

"What'd Mang-ryang the monk say?"

Cheon Woo-jin sighed.

"He said no."

"Damn it."

"No surprise. You're not seeking charity—it's a deal."

"I know that much. I just wanted to gauge how Mang-ryang would react to the Eight Guardians wrecking karma laws."

Zhuge Sa said,

"Without Heaven-Piercer's blessing, we'll proceed as originally planned."

"Zhuge Sa. You really intend to?"

"I do."

"It's suicide. Even tangled in the reincarnator's chain, this life's ours—can you truly cast it all aside without hesitation?"

Cheon Woo-jin voiced his doubt. Waiting for Baek Woong's return offered no hope anyway. Baek Woong was doomed soon, with no guarantee against the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns. Enduring this despair took inhuman will.

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

"What's the point of long life? You, Mang-ryang's disciple, might dodge the end somehow, but the rest can't. Haven't you grasped it's the same outcome?"

"......"

"They've finally summoned it."

Ku-gu-gu-gu...

Immense demonic power erupted in the direction Zhuge Sa watched. The western sky over the God City darkened as a dragon-like shadow entity slowly descended. Clearly, the White Lotus Cult Leader had performed a human sacrifice ritual to summon an avatar of the [Ancient Ruler].

Cheon Woo-jin bit his lip and said,

"Bastards. They'll stoop to anything if they can win. So many innocents dead..."

Zhuge Sa glanced sideways.

"Not your place to judge—we have to do the same."

"What?"

"Cheon Woo-jin. When the Eight Guardians invade, do this."

As Zhuge Sa's scheme unfolded, Cheon Woo-jin paled.

"...That far?"

"Don't like it? Forget it—I'll do it."

"No, I'll handle it."

Cheon Woo-jin steeled himself despite inner turmoil.

As Zhuge Sa said, it was a path to ruin either way.

Three months later—

The Eight Guardians finally invaded.

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