Reincarnation Sword God

Celestial Realm

As we defeated the Giant Earthworm, we were able to enter the cave that lay behind it. The cave was wide enough for two grown men to walk side by side, but there were no torches or light sources inside. So, we snapped off some branches to make makeshift torches and proceeded down the long tunnel.

As I walked through the cave, I muttered to myself,

“How did the Qingyue Protector pass through the Sea of Life?”

The size of the Giant Earthworm we had just seen was no joke. It could very well qualify as a disaster by any average person’s or typical warrior’s standards. It was a legendary monster that would likely require thousands or even tens of thousands of soldiers to handle. Given that Dokgo Seong, the elder of the Thunder God Lineage, had barely managed to sever its life thread using all his strength, I couldn’t help but wonder how the Qingyue Protector managed to bypass its fierce guardian.

There’s no way he defeated it in a one-on-one fight.

In response to my musings, Dokgo Seong chimed in,

“He probably deceived the worm’s attention and sneaked in.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Of course, the creature has keen senses, making it nearly impossible to sneak in with average light-footed techniques. However, Qingyue’s Divine Technique is quite exceptional even among the Thunder God Lineage, so he must have found a way.”

Curiosity piqued, I asked,

“So you’re saying the Qingyue Protector’s specialty is Divine Technique? Then you’re not suggesting he knows the Soul-Cleansing Steps…?”

“It seems you’ve learned the Soul-Cleansing Steps as well. Qingyue is indeed a successor of that technique. If he’s still alive, he would likely be counted among the top Divine Technique masters in the world.”

“Hmm.”

That made sense when mentioning the Soul-Cleansing Steps. I still marveled at its incredibly swift nature, sometimes so fast that I had difficulty controlling my own movements. If a master had practiced the Soul-Cleansing Steps for over half a century, it’s plausible he could have dodged the Giant Earthworm to enter.

Suddenly, our banter was interrupted as we came to a halt. The narrow path of the cave had ended abruptly. There was a gap of about twenty paces to the opposite cliff. Dokgo Seong glanced at the distance and asked,

“Can we cross with Divine Technique?”

Nobutsuna looked down into the darkness below and replied,

“It would be possible with the Mind Control Technique, but I’m concerned about what’s down there.”

When I translated for Dokgo Seong, he seemed to agree.

“Indeed.”

Everyone present was a peak master of the world, capable enough to cross a stretch of twenty paces somehow. The problem was the ominous killing intent emanating from the seemingly bottomless abyss below, indicating a threatening presence that made them hesitate.

Dokgo Seong handed me a torch, then suddenly propelled himself across the gap.

Whoosh!

With remarkable speed, Dokgo Seong leaped across the chasm and landed on the opposite side. He sent us a telepathic message,

[Don’t worry; if an enemy attacks, I will deal with it somehow.]

[Understood.]

Then, Tsukahara Boku Ten executed his Divine Technique and jumped across the cliff. However, contrary to before, a gigantic tentacle shot up rapidly from below to strike him.

“Whoa!”

Boku Ten hastily swung his sword to sever the tentacle, but during his mid-air jump, he was left dangling in the void. Dokgo Seong responded swiftly by unleashing a torrent of sword energy at the massive tentacle rising to attack.

Crack crack!

Aaaaghhhhh!!!

A grotesque scream erupted. Dokgo Seong didn’t let the tentacle retreat, using his immense strength to pull Boku Ten towards safety, while I quickly grasped Nobutsuna’s hand and leaped across the cliff.

Once the four of us made it safely to the other side, Boku Ten panted,

“I can’t relax at all. What kind of monster was that?”

“Probably a Demon Beast.”

Nobutsuna replied, looking pale.

“Good grief… I doubt I could survive in the Dead Sea…”

Boku Ten’s statement, muttered in bitterness, was no joke; the overwhelming Demon Realm landscape of Aokigahara was truly terrifying.

After a while, we noticed a bright light shining ahead. It was bright enough to be quite substantial, clearly indicating signs of human presence. As we entered a staircase radiating enough light to make torches unnecessary, a strange tension enveloped us. We couldn’t shake off the feeling that an enemy might ambush us at any moment.

Finally, we came across a spiral staircase and began to ascend. As I climbed the stairs, I mused,

‘Could this be a remnant of another world?’

It felt oddly familiar.

At the top of the staircase was a spacious chamber with an altar laid in front of us. It looked just like the Human Sacrifice Altar I’ve seen at various ruins. Dokgo Seong surveyed his surroundings and remarked,

“The path is blocked.”

“Should we turn back and look for another route?”

“No, it’s just a dead end. We’ve been on a straight path until now, so it’s unmistakable.”

Dokgo Seong, speaking with firmness, fixed his gaze on the altar.

“Whoever is hiding there, come out!”

Swish…

Then, like mist dispersing, a figure materialized in the previously empty space. Gradually, it took on a fully fleshed human form atop the altar.

The figure was dressed in pure white garments and adorned with specially crafted attire. Recognizing the outfit, I involuntarily let out a soft exclamation,

“A Yin-Yang Master.”

That was the traditional attire worn by the Yin-Yang Masters, or sorcerers, as referred to in Dongyoung, which had been passed down since ancient times. Their gender was indeterminate, possessing a remarkably beautiful and androgynous appearance.

The Yin-Yang Master revealed themselves and bowed to Dokgo Seong, saying,

“Welcome. I am Abe no Yoshihira, a member of the Sea’s administration clan.”

I translated what he said to Dokgo Seong. Dokgo Seong stared at Yoshihira for a moment before asking,

“I am Dokgo Seong of the Thunder God Lineage. Are you aware of our Qingyue Protector?”

I attempted to translate for Yoshihira again, but unexpectedly, Yoshihira seemed well-versed in Central Plains language. He understood without hesitation and responded fluently,

“Are you referring to the person who entered here several decades ago? He has, of course, crossed the Dead Sea and entered the Entering Sea.”

“Is that certain?”

“Heh heh…”

Abe no Yoshihira smiled enigmatically and then said,

“Have you come to this hell in search of Qingyue?”

“Yes.”

“Then I would recommend turning back. I’ve come here to advise you to do just that as the administrator.”

“What do you mean?”

“Take a look at this.”

Whuuuuuuuuuuum

Moments later, light radiated from the altar, and strange shapes emerged across the spacious chamber’s eight directions. We braced ourselves, thinking it might be a magical attack from Yoshihira. However, we soon realized that each figure represented a divination hexagram. Yoshihira calmly explained,

“This place is sealed by the power of the Eight Trigrams. It is one of the exceptional barriers constructed to suppress the powerful magic dwelling within the Sea. We pride ourselves on complete seals, both physically and magically, through the power of the Eight Trigrams.”

Dokgo Seong glanced at him and murmured,

“That’s some strange talk. It hardly sounds complete.”

Hearing Dokgo Seong’s remarks, Yoshihira wore a bittersweet smile.

“Ha ha, true enough… Our Qingyue broke through our barriers using just one Divine Technique. Since then, we’ve reinforced the barrier several times, but now, facing your Thunder God Masters, I don’t feel confident.”

“Are you afraid of the barrier failing, hence advising us to retreat?”

“Precisely. A peak master could shred our barrier like paper.”

“I’ve heard you refer to yourself in the plural. What exactly does ‘administrator clan’ mean?”

Yoshihira slowly explained,

“My clan, which has existed since Abe no Seimei, has been responsible for gathering and sealing the magic that was rampant in Dongyoung within the Sea. Since we lack divine artifacts like the Dans clan, if we didn’t do this, human civilization couldn’t even exist. And ever since, we’ve poured our heart into maintaining this seal.”

“What would happen if the seal were to break?”

“The magic we’ve stored in the Sea would surge forth and destroy this land of Dongyoung in three days.”

“……”

That was no exaggeration at all. Even the Demon Beasts in the Living Sea were far too powerful to contend against for an ordinary human. If the monsters in the Dead Sea, Entering Sea, and Annihilating Sea possessed even greater strength, human civilization would indeed vanish in an instant.

Dokgo Seong seemed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Nevertheless, he crossed his arms and calmly stated,

“I don’t care what you do. What matters to us is meeting the Qingyue Protector. If you get in our way, I’ll have to eliminate you.”

“Indeed…”

Yoshihira appeared deep in thought. He seemed to believe that Dokgo Seong could indeed destroy their barrier. After some deliberation, Yoshihira finally said,

“Then please gather eight allies. I will gladly open the gate to the Dead Sea for you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There are monsters emerging from the Dead Sea that are impossible to handle with mere martial mastery. If you can bring eight members to join you, including yourself, noble Dokgo Seong, then our administration clan will bless you with the power of the Eight Trigrams. It would significantly enhance your chances of survival.”

Dokgo Seong frowned.

“That’s nonsense. Why should we receive your blessing?”

“If not, you’ll surely die. After you die, your bodies and souls will belong to the Demon Gods, increasing their power.”

“……”

Without a word, Dokgo Seong pulled out his sword, clearly ready for battle. It seemed he judged Yoshihira’s words to be meaningless babble. Seeing this, Nobutsuna and Boku Ten looked alarmed and gestured to me, and I hurriedly stopped Dokgo Seong.

“Wait just a moment! Please hold on!”

“I don’t have time to waste on this nonsense. I can take down all Demon Beasts myself.”

“His words are not nonsense. We should heed what he says.”

“What do you mean? On what basis do you say that?”

I spoke firmly,

“What he says is true. If there are Demon Beasts capable of mental attacks, we won’t stand a chance.” I had no choice but to explain my past experiences—the times I had faced Demonic creatures in battle and nearly lost.

“There are ways to resist illusions by using the Thunder God Lineage’s vision.”

“This is not that simple. A powerful mental attacker could confuse even a peak expert. I barely survived thanks to the powers of a Divine Artifact.”

Upon hearing this, Dokgo Seong looked surprised.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. I put my life on the line.”

I was confident of this, for if creatures with mental attacks did exist, it would bring real danger. In my past life, even formidable warriors like Lee Gwang and Jin So Cheong almost fell victim to a spiritual curse while battling beasts of the Moon.

Considering the strength of the Living Sea’s guardian, there was no assurance that a creature of equal strength didn’t exist further along. In fact, I would assert that such a being most certainly existed.

Dokgo Seong sensed something from my tone and uttered a low grumble. After a moment’s consideration, he asked,

“How do we gather eight people? Do we just need to fill the numbers?”

“Please include anyone who wouldn’t hinder your efforts as allies. Sorcerers are also permit-able.”

“That’s quite demanding.”

“There’s no way around it; this is the absolute worst Demon Realm for humanity.”

“You mentioned that Qingyue is presently in the Entering Sea. Is he still alive?”

“Yes, he lives. Though he hasn’t ventured further.”

Dokgo Seong looked back at us.

“Let’s return. We need to prepare.”

Yoshihira let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew… Thank you. Allow me to escort you to the exit.”

Whoosh!

Before long, we returned with Yoshihira to the outpost building at the Entrance of the Tree Sea. After seeing Yoshihira’s abilities, Nobutsuna asked him a question.

“With such handy teleportation techniques, could you not simply send us to the Entering Sea instead of us gathering eight members?”

“Such techniques can only be used from the rear passageway to the front. While individuals can move anywhere, group transport carries restrictions.”

“Hmm…”

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

As soon as Yoshihira concluded his sentence, he vanished into thin air.

Dokgo Seong stared at the spot where Yoshihira had been before muttering,

“What a mysterious being. I can’t feel any substance.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s like a specter. But he’s a specter with substance, suggesting he has some unique technique to alter his physical form.”

After saying that, Dokgo Seong added,

“Now that we know Qingyue’s whereabouts, let’s leave this place.”

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

‘Wait, isn’t this the best training ground to recharge the power of Makya?’

According to Nobutsuna and Boku Ten, the Demon Beasts in the Sea of Life were said to infinitely generate magic from the Demon Energy. It was as if they existed to fill a predetermined number. Since Makya could absorb power from these monsters, wouldn’t it be an excellent way to gain experience?

So I said to Dokgo Seong,

“I would like to train a bit by fighting the Demon Beasts.”

“Fighting the beasts?”

Dokgo Seong looked taken aback before shaking his head.

“No, I don’t want to waste time here; I want to meet the Sword Demon.”

“Hmm…”

I felt troubled. There was still plenty of time before my promised month with the Sword Demon, yet Dokgo Seong seemed eager to meet him immediately. It was natural for him to loathe the idea of battling monsters in such perilous territory.

“Actually…”

I had no choice but to explain my circumstances. I shared my doubts about Zhuge Sha, my strategy of observing him over time, and my desire to recharge the power of Makya in preparation for any unfortunate situation.

Upon hearing my explanation, Dokgo Seong looked puzzled.

“Are you saying Zhuge Sha is suspicious? Then why not just kill him?”

“His knowledge and abilities about the alien race could prove very useful.”

“Hmm, this situation is indeed tricky.”

“I’d like to recharge Makya’s powers just in case something goes awry.”

In his usual blunt manner, Dokgo Seong replied,

“You rely too much on these supernatural forces, despite being a martial artist yourself.”

“That’s…”

“Fine. Let’s stay here until that month passes. During that time, let’s see how much you can grow Makya.”

“Thank you.”

So I remained at the Entrance of the Tree Sea, fighting the Demon Beasts to train and grow Makya.

After my promised month passed, we prepared to return to Dongyoung. After breakfast, Dokgo Seong asked,

“Have you achieved your goals?”

“To be honest, I’m not quite sure yet.”

During that time, I absorbed the power of hundreds of Demon Beasts into Makya. Having four peak experts roaming around and unleashing their martial auras was more than enough to prevent any crises. However, despite this power absorption, I had yet to see any discernible changes in Makya.

‘While it does feel like it’s gotten stronger…’

What could be the secret to properly growing Makya?

As I pondered this, Dokgo Seong said,

“You mentioned that Makya is a treasure crafted by the gods, right? Then it should be simple.”

“Simple?”

“It’s probably just a matter of insufficient quantity or quality of sacrificial offerings.”

“……”

The Demon Beasts and spirits inhabiting this Sea were all powerful enough to be considered major monsters in the outside world. If absorbing the magic released from such beings wasn’t sufficient, I couldn’t fathom what kind of remarkable offerings I’d need.

“All right, then let’s go. I’m sick of dealing with all these beasts.”

“Yes.”

Whoosh!

With that, we said our goodbyes and returned through the Shadowless Gate. As we stepped into the Shadowless Gate, everything appeared normal, and the sect members all looked intact.

We headed straight to the Sword Demon’s location. He welcomed us with a wide grin as we arrived.

“Oh! You’ve come back, Baek Woong.”

“Yes, Your Honor…”

The moment the Sword Demon beamed at us with a cheerful expression,

Shink!

Dokgo Seong ran forward without uttering a word and severed the Sword Demon’s head.

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