Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

From that point, the Sword Demon, locked in fierce combat with the Twelfth Rhythm Lord for about half a shichen, realized it on the hundredth exchange.

"Not good."

He felt he'd already had several chances to land a fatal blow. Their clashes were flashy yet subtle and intricate, a battle worthy of absolute realm masters. The exchanges themselves bordered on art.

Yet despite appearances of parity, he saw it wasn't the case at all. He grasped the vast gulf between himself and the Twelfth Rhythm Lord.

Proof was Hong Gildong, the Lord's subordinate, who had leaped up from the cliff base like a flying bird but merely stood there with arms crossed, spectating. In stark contrast, the Sword Demon was growing exhausted, his stamina and inner energy significantly depleted.

"Clang!!"

The Galaxy Severing Blade clashed with the Sword Demon's longsword, and suddenly, a chip flew from the blade's edge.

"So it can't quite match a divine weapon after all..."

*Whoosh*

The Twelfth Rhythm Lord didn't pursue the Sword Demon as he fell back a zhang. Instead, he spoke in a bored tone.

"Just like with Musashi. In the end, even you lack the power to breach Heaven's Seamless Robe."

The Sword Demon's eyebrow twitched.

"I'll grant it's an invincible defense, but I don't see it as absolute."

"Is that so? Then you differ from Musashi."

The Sword Demon faltered briefly at the Lord's words.

"I didn't fight Musashi this long."

"......"

What did that mean?

The Sword Demon had unleashed every sword qi at his command to draw out the Lord's techniques, giving his all. But the counters came with absurd precision, forcing him to rely on Void Strike to counter and defend in turn. They'd exchanged over a hundred moves, yet he still didn't know Heaven's Seamless Robe's realm, its principles, or how it countered. He didn't believe himself stronger than Musashi now—Musashi would likely edge him out, depending on luck in real combat. Yet Musashi had ended his duel with the Lord in moments, without a hundred exchanges?

Something was off.

What separated him from Miyamoto Musashi? It wasn't mere difference in prowess—it had to be the martial arts they cultivated.

"Ah..."

In that instant, a hypothesis flashed through the Sword Demon's mind. It was the intuition of a genius who had mastered the Shadowless Soulsevering Swordsmanship and honed his blade for decades. His father's words also resurfaced.

[I've heard there exists somewhere in this world an ultimate realm that returns all myriad martial forms to their essence.]

The essence of all myriad martial forms.

The difference between himself and Miyamoto Musashi.

His mind and experience instantly recognized the hypothesis could hold true. Baek Woong might never grasp it, dead or alive, but Seomun Daeryong could.

"No way... if that's the case..."

A chill ran down the Sword Demon's spine. If true, surviving this long against the Twelfth Rhythm Lord was sheer heavenly luck. Thanks to Zhuge Scholar's mission, he'd unwittingly chosen the optimal strategy for endurance—but defeating the Lord had been impossible from the start!

This being before him was the absolute sovereign of the martial world!

No one in the Central Plains' murim, save the White Lotus Cult Leader, could best the Twelfth Rhythm Lord.

It was a matter of matchup.

The Sword Demon murmured quietly.

"A hair's breadth becomes a chasm between heaven and earth..."

"You've figured it out."

*Whoooooh whoooooh*

The Twelfth Rhythm Lord swung the Galaxy Severing Blade ferociously with impassive eyes.

"But I can't let you go. It's not flashy, but if word spreads, it'll cause no end of trouble."

"......"

"Even sensing this power gap, you show no agitation?"

The Lord seemed to smile bitterly. He'd waged psychological warfare from start to finish to ease the fight, but the Sword Demon betrayed not a single opening. For one who grew stronger against the strong—a trait of the absolute realm—such a flexible, ice-cold opponent was a poor matchup.

"Now, shall we end this?"

*Thud thud*

The Twelfth Rhythm Lord charged with the Galaxy Severing Blade. His movements seemed a reckless onslaught without strategy, yet in that instant, the Sword Demon's thoughts froze as if in illusion. He perceived myriad scenarios—hundreds of thousands—of their collision flashing by. Countless techniques, variations, and intent arts swirled in vortex.

Yet—

Even among millions of possibilities, not one allowed him to so much as graze the Twelfth Rhythm Lord. Confronting that utter void of potential left him dizzy, but he clenched his teeth and met the assault.

"Boom!!"

An explosive roar erupted as the Lord's kick shattered the vacuum, launching the Sword Demon skyward. Following the Explosive Kick Fist, the coiling chain of the Galaxy Severing Blade unfurled like a spider's web.

Asura's Thousand Demonic Forms

Moments later, the Lord's form vanished like a light arrow, and hundreds of beams crisscrossed near the Sword Demon's body. Each was a killing blow, each chain link wielding horrifying physical force as if alive.

"Gah!!"

Blood surged from the Sword Demon's mouth with a retch. The attacks were too swift and precise to block or evade. In a single instant, he took them all as fatal strikes. Knowing a fall to the ground meant instant death, he bit his lip hard.

Blood Moon Seal!

*Boom*

Sword-leaf-like protective sword qi unfurled as the Sword Demon sprang up like a tumbler doll, regaining his stance. But with ruptured organs and shattered bones, he couldn't fight. Blood-soaked like a blood man, he still straightened, sword raised to face the Lord squarely. The Twelfth Rhythm Lord spoke.

"Strange."

As the Sword Demon remained silent, the Lord asked suspiciously.

"You could've endured by dodging my preemptive strike, but it seemed you deliberately took it. Was that my imagination?"

"...Heh... *cough*."

The Sword Demon spat blood and laughed.

"Speak... plainly. It wasn't that I couldn't block or dodge... it's that blocking or dodging was pointless."

"Well, true enough."

*Hummm*

In that moment, a massive green aura erupted from the Twelfth Rhythm Lord's body. It enveloped him swiftly, and he whirled his arm.

"Recovery complete."

"......!!"

"Not even surprised."

The Sword Demon showed no change in expression, but he was stunned. Until just now, the Lord had expended considerable stamina and qi on intent arts, yet a single spell restored it all. And without borrowing power from the World Tree, that divine sapling? Restoring via the Wood Essence alone was otherworldly.

Only now did the Sword Demon understand Zhuge Scholar's strategy.

"...Right, got it. Teaming with a monster like this against the Eight Legions Divine Generals... we'd just get used. We haven't fathomed his depths yet... He was right."

Untouched even after the World Tree's destruction, fully preserving his power!

If such a being uncovered reincarnating Baek Woong's secrets and moved to seal him, it'd be catastrophic. The Sword Demon steeled himself desperately and raised his sword anew.

"Then... here I come!"

"Hoh. Impressive resolve."

The Lord sounded admiring. Even spectating Hong Gildong was awed by the Sword Demon's determination. With the gap and outcome clear, to press on with his mission regardless! Any warrior would respect that.

Yet—

*Whoosh*

The Sword Demon fled. Pouring every last reserve of power into his movement technique alone.

"......"

"......"

The Twelfth Rhythm Lord and Hong Gildong froze, staring dumbfounded at his retreating back.

They hadn't expected such words followed by flight!

But the Lord quickly regained composure and ordered Hong Gildong.

"Pursue!"

"Yes?"

"His mission wasn't to stop me. It was to relay my intel to his allies!"

"B-but..."

The Lord instantly grasped the Sword Demon's true intent, but the situation wasn't favorable. Hong Gildong panicked, glancing behind the Lord.

"They're... here."

"Tch."

"Move rashly, and we're done."

*Whoooooh*

Atop the cliff where the Lord's Moonlit Snow Night Armor whipped up a blizzard. Behind them stood three figures: the Eight Legions Divine Generals—Yaksha, Gandharva, and Kinnara. Confirming their target, the Twelfth Rhythm Lord, they smirked.

Kinnara drawled smoothly.

"Heh heh. An honor to meet the master of the Twelfth Rhythm."

The Twelfth Rhythm Lord said nothing.

Kinnara's eyes gleamed with killing intent.

"Up close, you don't seem that impressive. Were we overreacting?"

"Why attack our Twelfth Rhythm?"

When the Lord asked Kinnara, the latter fondled his plump belly.

"Our king desires the earthly realm pacified cleanly."

"......"

"Farewell then, human."

*Flash*

In a blaze of light, the three Eight Legions Divine Generals revealed their true forms. In that instant, the Twelfth Rhythm Lord drew Wood Essence and Moon Essence simultaneously, murmuring.

"Didn't want to fight yet."

As the Twelfth Rhythm Lord clashed with the Eight Legions Divine Generals, Zhuge Scholar coughed and collapsed to the ground.

"......"

The plan was nearly complete.

He'd cornered the Twelfth Rhythm Lord as intended. He'd cast listening spells on all his allies' swords simultaneously, even on Third Society's Feng Baok via his demon pact for potent surveillance. He'd also deployed familiars discreetly for visual intel. A single slip could've exposed it all, but during his time with the Lord, Zhuge Scholar showed no flaws.

And the Sword Demon had escaped flawlessly, ensuring success. In a dark place, he caressed his right eye and muttered.

"Whew, heh heh... I get the gist. Even the Third Society's true nature..."

He cackled. An unexpectedly huge haul. Passing this intel to Baek Woong would shorten his journey by decades, no doubt. He hadn't pinned the Lord's weakness head-on, but it was a major win.

Of course—assuming Baek Woong returned alive. Zhuge Scholar chose not to dwell on it. The Sword Demon, Cheon Woojin, and others entangled in Baek Woong's reincarnation didn't grasp its meaning. But steeped in the demonic path, he knew his situation was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. Whether feast or famine, it was his allies—not Baek Woong—who had to charge in.

"The others don't realize Baek Woong is the king."

Or perhaps they sensed it instinctively. But the cosmic terror beyond, the mythic despair's vastness, was too remote to acknowledge. For ordinary humans, ignorance might be bliss.

"Step."

"...Knew you'd be here."

Zhuge Scholar addressed the figure in the shadows at the deep cave's end. The man, holding a torch, stared motionless at him. Meeting gazes, he slowly replied.

"We think alike, it seems."

"Don't like admitting I read your moves?"

"No difference. We're both here, after all."

"Fair enough."

Zhuge Scholar grinned at his foe.

"Truth is, this moment's the most annoying in my plan. Hoped not to see your face on the way here."

"Same here."

"Kindly step aside."

The torch-bearing eccentric spoke.

"Heretic, you seek the spirit power pooled in the World Tree's roots—and the seed to live another millennium within it."

"Something like that."

"No. I claim it."

As the opponent firmly objected, Zhuge Scholar smirked.

"Then I'll have to kill my unhelpful 'brother'..."

Indeed.

The final figure blocking Zhuge Scholar...Zhuque of the Imperial Messenger Guard, current head of the Zhuge family, and high priest of the Demon Subduing Hall: Zhuge Yuryong.

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