Reincarnation Sword God

00724——————==
Dark Heaven Village
Kuuuu…
We arrived in front of the sealed barrier of the Flame Elemental Sword at the southern continent. Cheon Woo-jin glanced at the barrier and said.
“If we try to open it with the power of the Flame Elemental Sword, the Celestial Realm will be immediately alerted to our movements. You know that, right?”
“Of course.”
How could I forget the time my life was at stake?
In my twenty-first life, I had attempted to break the barrier using the White Bow with brute force. At that moment, while the White Bow could indeed break the barrier, Celestial Sage Mi-hu King suddenly appeared and thwarted me. I was persuaded by the words of Mi-hu King, and I ended up being killed by the Incarnate Being instead. Mi-hu King must have been dispatched urgently due to Queen Mother of the West’s concerns about the barrier being broken.
As the painful memories resurfaced, I glanced subtly at Mi-hu King, but he appeared completely unaware. He had no reason to know, after all. Mi-hu King nodded in agreement with Cheon Woo-jin’s words.
“There’s no specific way to break the barrier without letting the Celestial Realm know about it. What do you intend to do?”
I calmly replied.
“My companion’s strategy indicates that Changhil and Jeogok will inevitably have a conversation or meeting. When beings of the level of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors convene, the Law of Cause and Effect will greatly fluctuate, drawing the attention of the Celestial Realm. If we take advantage of the natural disasters that occur at that time to break the barrier, they won’t notice us. And even if they do, they wouldn’t know who took it. After all, it’s thousands of miles away.”
“Isn’t that too simplistic? What’s the basis of that strategy?”
“Well… it’s Master Mangnyang. It was the information he provided.”
Mangnyang had said he sought advice from his master, Master Mangnyang, through Mingjing. And the strategy was devised based on the information Master Mangnyang shared.
“What?”
Mi-hu King showed a surprised expression. I knew that trying to hide information from Mi-hu King clumsily would only raise his suspicions, so I slowly continued my explanation.
“Master Mangnyang knows what happens when beings of Divine Status equal to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors meet.”
“Is your companion in a position to seek advice from Master Mangnyang?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hmm… Master Mangnyang… then I can believe it.”
Mi-hu King murmured.
“Alright! Since I’ve decided to trust you, let’s go through with it. So when will the natural disasters occur?”
“I was told it would be within a long half a moment.”
“Let’s wait.”
We stood by while maintaining the magic of enhanced sight. After some time had passed, suddenly, thousands of enormous arms with wings descended upon Luoyang’s skies.
Goooor…
‘Jeogok…!!’
Could that arm shape itself be the divine incarnation of the Three Sovereigns, Jeogok?
As if to welcome that arm, all of the Eight Parts of the Divine transformed into their original forms and floated in the air. There was no flow of murderous intent or premonition among them, indicating they weren’t in a fighting mood. Then, a moment later, dark clouds rapidly spread out, engulfing all of Luoyang in darkness.
Swoooosh…
It rained.
The rain, albeit not heavy, carried a chilling aura, causing the passersby on the streets of Luoyang to feel a sense of foreboding and enter their homes one by one. No, perhaps the raindrops themselves contained a magical power that silenced their presence, urging a haunting stillness.
Kuuuuu…
And amidst the rain muffling sounds, Jeogok’s arm slowly transformed into the form of an ancient king. Behind him, azure wings flared into flames like blazing fire.
Cheon Woo-jin, who was linked by the enhanced sight, said.
“It seems they’ll notice us any moment now. I will now cut off the enhanced sight.”
“What? Changhil and Jeogok are about to have a conversation, and you want to end this important connection…”
“Do you not know how elevated their Divine Status is? Unless you’re the one using the enhanced sight, they’ll surely curse whoever’s spying on them if they notice. Eavesdropping is impossible.”
“……”
“This is a different scenario than before. Unlike before, from now on, those individuals will be sensitive to eavesdropping.”
Is this a difference between an all-out war and a secret meeting?
Paa-at!
Cheon Woo-jin retracted the enhanced sight and said.
“A natural disaster has occurred, so let’s break the seal of the Flame Elemental Sword now.”
“Got it.”
Moments later, Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo, Cheon Woo-jin, and Mi-hu King began to gather their strength simultaneously. First, Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo placed her hand on the barrier and started to break down its components using Corpse Dissolution Technique, followed by the contributions of Cheon Woo-jin and Mi-hu King, speeding up the process.
It was the fastest and least burdensome way to break it, and it was possible because each of them was a great entity.
Swhish…
Originally, breaking the barrier of the Flame Elemental Sword required immense power, effort, and time, but this time it was shattered incredibly easily. The allies were filled with beings of overwhelming strength, making it something that would be unimaginable in a normal rebirth.
‘And thanks to the chaos caused by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors confronting Changhil in Luoyang…’
Usually, if one attempted to break in this manner, they would face a much harsher backlash, but the strategy had provided ample assistance. It was a method that would be hard to utilize again moving forward.
As soon as the barrier vanished, we swiftly headed inside. We would normally have to stubbornly search for the hidden dimensional door’s location, but thanks to Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo’s Corpse Dissolution Technique, we easily found its position and were guided inside. Upon entering the passageway, I recognized the familiar spiral staircase. After walking down the spiral staircase leading to the Abyss for quite some time, I found a glowing red altar.
As I spilled blood on the altar, a towering figure, Gong Gong, appeared upon it. I knew him well, so I was not surprised and met his gaze head-on. Gong Gong looked at us while holding the giant sword in one hand.
[O beings who have come to the sealed place of the Seven Luminaries, cloaked in the fate of chaos… I must test whether you possess the qualification to obtain the Flame Elemental Sword.]
“Are you Gong Gong, descendant of Yan Emperor and Elder?”
[Indeed…]
I crossed my arms and stared at Gong Gong.
“Let’s not engage in unnecessary conflict, Gong Gong. This is not a time for fighting.”
[What…?]
“I know that the chaotic flames surrounding you are those of Zhuyong. And those flames seem to have weakened significantly now. You appear to be in a state where you should be worrying about the future rather than fighting us, as the Guardian of the Seven Luminaries.”
[……]
“Shouldn’t you release the seal of the Yan Emperor?”
Kuuuu…
Gong Gong let the tip of his giant sword fall to the ground. He looked at me with genuine astonishment and said.
[You… Who are you? You are all such powerful beings… And how do you know all those secrets…]
“Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo.”
Paa-at!
In that moment, Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo manifested before Gong Gong. As soon as Gong Gong recognized Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo, he exclaimed.
[Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo!! You’ve come here in person… Could it be that the Celestial Realm is about to release my seal? If the Zhuyong flames are weakened…!!]
Gong Gong shouted with great anticipation, but Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo quietly responded.
[That is not the case, Gong Gong. My coming here is unrelated to the will of the Celestial Realm.]
[What? Then why have you come?]
[Soon, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors will cause chaos, and Changhil will rise, plunging the earthly world into chaos. I’m working with those who have the determination to prevent that, and I hope you can lend us your strength.]
[… I don’t understand what you mean. However, even if I want to help, I am in a state of having lost my true power due to the curse of Zhuyong, and I am of no assistance.]
Upon hearing those words, I spoke.
“Gong Gong, don’t you wonder why the curse of Zhuyong inscribed upon your body has weakened?”
[Hmm… Perhaps because Zhuyong has weakened.]
“In the past five years, Zhuyong indeed descended to the earthly realm once as his true self. He apparently suffered considerable damage while fighting the Eight Parts of the Divine and was forced to retreat. It’s likely weakened due to the wounds he sustained in the material realm.”
Gong Gong flinched.
Hearing that, he looked even more shocked.
[No way… What did you say? Zhuyong lost to the Eight Parts of the Divine? It can’t be… Who in the material realm could harm the true form of Zhuyong? That’s impossible.]
It appeared Gong Gong had an inkling of the power of Zhuyong as a fellow deity. He also seemed to realize that Zhuyong could exploit the weaknesses of the Eight Parts of the Divine. After confirming that, I continued.
“While I don’t know who he lost to, it’s a fact that he has weakened, and if you agree now, breaking the curse would be easy. Our strength should be sufficient for that.”
[Hmm… What do you wish for?]
“We cannot meet the end while the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors remain idle. Therefore, we wish to forge a force that can restrain them and prevent or delay the end of humanity. Additionally, we aim to seek the Emperor’s assistance.”
[……!!]
“If you promise to grant us the treasures of the Flame Elemental Sword and everything inside, I will help you lift your curse and release the seal of the Yan Emperor. However, betrayal will absolutely not be tolerated.”
[Let me think about it for a moment.]
“Understood.”
Gong Gong stood silently for a moment.
He silently pondered for about half a moment before suddenly nodding and saying.
[Alright. I accept that proposal.]
“Can you stake your name and existence on that?”
[Of course. I’m determined.]
“Then… please remain still.”
I initially used the Palace Examination Technique, but given my current state of having lost the National Seal, I couldn’t use it. Instead, with the power of Fire Eye Golden Spirit, I was able to see the nature of the curse. So, I activated the Fire Eye Golden Spirit and, using the Thunder God Sword Dance to cut the curse on Gong Gong.
Swoosh!
Whether the curse had weakened significantly was evident, as last time I had to strike multiple times, but this time a single cut was enough for Gong Gong’s strength to visibly recover. Simultaneously, I began to absorb the chaotic flames using the power of Fire Dragon Incarnate, growing stronger.
Kwarrrr…
[Haha… Finally, this damned curse has lifted…!!]
Gong Gong’s figure rapidly enlarged, transforming into a giant entwined with the body of darkness and yin-yang. His power surged more than tenfold, a level of strength that felt entirely different from when he was a Guardian. However, Gong Gong, powerful as he was, still didn’t seem stronger than Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo at present, allowing me to roughly compare the strength of the great entities. Of course, one had to consider that Gong Gong’s power hadn’t fully recovered yet.
Gong Gong said.
[I will keep my promise. Follow me.]
The inner door opened, revealing the Dragon Flower Tree and the Flame Elemental Sword. I used the Fire Dragon Sword to absorb the power of the Flame Elemental Sword, and in doing so, the Fire Dragon Sword not only regained its full power but also began to exude light greater than before.
Oooooo…
Had the Fire Dragon Sword ever been strengthened to this extent? For some reason, I felt that the current Fire Dragon Sword surpassed the standard of the Seven Luminaries. Moreover, perhaps due to the sudden boost in power, Fire Dragon Incarnate also seemed to be experiencing a considerable sense of release while remaining silent.
Sruur…
As I pulled out the Flame Elemental Sword, I felt its power surge within me. I let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew.”
With this, I had acquired the Flame Elemental Sword, Water Element, and Golden Eagle Guards, totaling three for our side.
It was impossible to immediately reclaim the Moon Sovereign and Wood Essence that had vanished with the Master of the Twelve Joules, leaving only the Earth Star remaining. The moment I gathered the Earth Star, it would mean we had obtained more than half of the Seven Luminaries.
Moreover, acquiring three of the Seven Luminaries held great significance compared to before.
Seven Luminaries Resonance!
The overwhelming power generated when the Seven Luminaries resonated would increase in intensity exponentially with each additional Luminary. Until now, I had only been able to resonate a maximum of two Luminaries, but what would happen if I resonated three of them?
I placed the seeds of the Dragon Flower Tree into my wooden armor and said.
“Gong Gong, is it truly impossible to defeat Zhuyong with the power of the Eight Parts of the Divine?”
[Huh?]
“Why is that? Why do you have such certainty? Each of the Eight Parts of the Divine counts as a Demon King-level entity.”
At my question, Gong Gong scoffed dismissively.
[Hmph… Even the Eight Parts of the Divine were originally mortals. And their weakness is [The First Character]. In front of Zhuyong, who knows how to wield that character, the Eight Parts of the Divine would be like insects.]
So Gong Gong, being an ancient being, was aware of [The First Character].
After confirming that fact, I asked Gong Gong again.
“Gong Gong, can you also use the power of [The First Character]? Do you possibly know how?”
[Unfortunately, I’m only aware of its existence but not how to use it. My lord, the Yan Emperor, was a member of the Three Sovereigns but had no interest in such trivial matters. However, Zhuyong seems to have crawled under the Three Sovereigns, Jeon Wook, and learned it from him. I once saw him use it at the climax of a great hall fight.]
“Is that so? Do you happen to know anyone else who might know?”
[… Guang Chengzi, perhaps.]
“Pardon?”
The unexpected name made my eyes widen.
[Why are you so surprised? Guang Chengzi was the Emperor’s closest aide; it’s impossible for him not to know.]
“Well… that’s…”
An unexpected suspect indeed. Until now, I had thought that only the Three Sovereigns or their close aides would know about [The First Character], but I never expected Guang Chengzi, a member of the Kunlun Twelve Great Sages, to be included. When I glanced at Gu Cheon Hyun-Nyo, she said.
[You seem to be suspecting me.]
“No, it’s not that. But it would’ve been helpful if you at least mentioned that Guang Chengzi seemed suspicious…”
[Guang Chengzi resides in the Imperial Palace.]
“The… Imperial Palace?”
[And he only descends to the Celestial Realm when he requires something, and since ancient times, I have scarcely spoken to him. He is a being full of secrets.]
“……”
Something felt amiss.
I had the nagging sensation that I was omitting something very important.
However, I shook my head and organized the situation.
“Anyway, from now on, we are allies, so I look forward to your cooperation, Gong Gong.”
[When do you plan to lift my lord’s seal?]
“Currently, we hold three Luminaries, but you know that’s insufficient to lift the Yan Emperor’s seal. It’s a barrier created by none other than Nüwa herself, so it wouldn’t be feasible unless we weaken her by defeating her, right?”
[……]
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Gong Gong, staring at me with a horrified expression, finally regained his senses and said.
[Incredible… Are you truly human? How do you know all such mythological secrets so casually? I can’t even comprehend the depth of your knowledge.]
“……”
I secretly smiled wryly, muttering to myself.
After going through reincarnations around twenty-four times, it would be possible.
[The thought of betraying you is gradually fading…]
“Enough with the jokes. Anyway, we cannot release the Yan Emperor for now. We must gather our strength to weaken the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors before we can safely collect all Seven Luminaries.”
[Understood. So, what will we do now?]
I glanced sideways at Cheon Woo-jin. He then said.
“The dark clouds of Luoyang haven’t cleared yet. The conference continues.”
“This is troublesome… This was all the strategy I had in mind.”
Right, Mangnyang had calculated up to this point perfectly.
Once we had obtained the Flame Elemental Sword, too many variables had arisen from the outcomes of the conversation between Changhil and Jeogok, leaving me no further thoughts on it. To be precise, I could anticipate only for the worst-case scenario, so I had executed the most prudent countermeasure possible. Naturally, with no further strategies left, I could only feel lost.
At that moment, Mi-hu King spoke.
“Why not seek out Master Mangnyang?”
“Pardon?”
All eyes in the room turned towards Mi-hu King, and he said indifferently.
“The board has already been set. And he is nearly the only substitute who cares for humans, so he might provide further assistance.”
“… That makes sense.”
“We cannot interfere with the conference or storm the Imperial Palace in the south. So it seems rational to seek his advice during this window of opportunity.”
I nodded and said.
“I will go to seek Master Mangnyang.”
Last time, he hadn’t wanted to meet with me, but perhaps that cat might aid us in our cause.