Reincarnation Sword God

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Heavenly Realm

From the next day, the teachings of the Thunder God Sword Dance began. Dokgo Seong handed Cheongwol a bowl of gruel made from wild roots and said,

“The Thunder God Sword Dance, the ultimate technique of the Thunder God Lineage, has developed as part of a ritual, unlike the intensely practical spear techniques. The dance infused with the Thunderbolt Technique is a way of showing utmost reverence to the divine. It signifies that one possesses the capabilities of a shaman and has the qualifications to become the sect leader of the White Lotus Sect.”

I had heard this explanation before, so I decided to ask a question I had been curious about for a while.

“Then, are there similar ritual martial arts in other schools?”

“Indeed there are.”

Dokgo Seong gazed at Cheongwol, who was struggling to eat the root gruel. Cheongwol looked like he wanted to eat meat, but to restore his body and mind, eating this gruel was a must. It was only when Cheongwol had consumed over half of the gruel that Dokgo Seong turned away.

“To be exact, the invocation techniques exist in all major martial arts. And the leaders of each faction are supposed to pass them down only to their successors.”

“I see.”

Perhaps Hwa Sin-ryu’s Han Jin-seong was mastering something similar.

“Now, let’s proceed with the basic forms.”

The Thunder God Sword Dance comprises a total of 12 basic forms, and they were rather ordinary. Unlike other sword techniques with numerous detailed variations or peculiar forms, it was, on the surface, an unremarkable sword style. However, I quickly realized it was far from that.

‘Thunderbolt Technique!’

Each seemingly ordinary movement was impossible to connect if it didn’t emit the Thunderbolt Technique. In other words, assuming one mastered the Thunderbolt Technique, it was a martial art capable of delivering significant power. As I practiced the forms with Dokgo Seong all day, I started to get the hang of it.

Dokgo Seong stated,

“The key lies in how freely you can handle the Thunderbolt Technique. When the Sword Thunder moves in response to your will even while standing still, only then can you claim to have achieved the Thunder God Sword Dance.”

“How long will it take to master it?”

“Hmm… Typically, a talented individual practicing diligently would take around ten years.”

Ten years!

It seemed like a considerable time, but considering the Thunder God Sword Dance is the supreme martial art of the Thunder God Lineage, it wasn’t that long. The actual difficulty likely ranged from intermediate to upper intermediate levels, not straying far from the norm.

‘Looks like I should set a target of 20 years.’

As I pondered, Dokgo Seong added,

“I’ll provide detailed guidance corresponding to your progress in the Thunder God Sword Dance. Don’t worry; if you learn from me, you’ll soon master the refinement of Thunder God Lineage techniques.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Although it felt somewhat disappointing that learning the top sword technique of the Thunder God Lineage wouldn’t be extraordinarily difficult, this was probably the norm. It would be absurd if a martial art meant to facilitate becoming a shaman and sect leader was dauntingly difficult. On the contrary, it was impressive that Dokgo Seong had developed the Thunder God Sword Dance into a supreme, transcendent skill.

Once my training concluded, I spent the remaining time teaching Dokgo Seong and Cheongwol the skills of Jang Sam-bong. Just like during my time with the Sword Demon, both masters seemed endlessly amazed.

“What a marvelous martial art!”

“Indeed…”

Even though I had only skimmed the surface, the essence of the martial art seemed to touch them deeply. Seeing their eyes filled with childlike curiosity, I could tell they would dive into their training with unmatched enthusiasm.

I suddenly became curious and asked them,

“How does Jang Sam-bong’s ultimate technique compare with the sect leader’s martial arts?”

“Hmm…”

Cheongwol appeared troubled, while Dokgo Seong fell into deep thought. Then Dokgo Seong opened his mouth.

“I can’t really say.”

“Why not?”

“Both are absolute realms of martial arts that are beyond our capability to describe. It’s as ridiculous as discussing the summit from the base of a mountain.”

With a bitter murmur, Dokgo Seong continued,

“However, if one were to master all of Jang Sam-bong’s six ultimate techniques and unify them, they might have a chance against the sect leader. This martial art also seems to have no limits.”

His hopeful statement did little to brighten my heart. Looking at it differently, the current martial arts of the sect leader seemed to be equal to those of the Great Immortal. No, if measured accurately, it was hard to tell which was superior. They were indeed monstrous superhumans.

Afterward, I trained with the powerful beings of the Thunder God Lineage for about two months. Dokgo Seong did his utmost to teach me the Thunder God Sword Dance, while I shared Jang Sam-bong’s ultimate techniques with them. The process of studying and discussing martial arts went on day and night.

Then, during the third month, Dokgo Seong spoke up,

“It seems you’ve now fully grasped the forms of the Thunder God Sword Dance. From today, I will teach you how to generate Sword Thunder.”

Ziiiiiing

At that moment, lightning sparked from Dokgo Seong’s sword edge. It was a common occurrence if one operated the powers of the Thunder God Lineage and achieved the Thunder Spirit, but the Sword Thunder unleashed by Dokgo Seong possessed a level of weight that transcended dimensions. The bright, dazzling lightning took on a distinct, circular form.

“This is the Sword Thunder. It’s the ultimate attack technique achievable through the Thunder God Sword Dance.”

“Is Sword Thunder different from Sword Qi?”

“That’s a strange question,” Dokgo Seong replied brusquely.

“Whether it’s Sword Thunder or Sword Qi, they’re manifestations of the mind that embody your imagination. Well, if you must discern a difference, it’s that you can endow them with attributes.”

“Attributes like that of lightning?”

“Hmm… You tend to overly simplify the advanced stages of martial arts.”

He scratched his head and pondered for a moment before saying,

“Words can’t compare to firsthand experience. Let’s clash Sword Qi and Sword Thunder once.”

I complied with his request and summoned my Sword Qi. My Sword Qi reverberated faintly with the Thunder Spirit, but it didn’t take on a clear form like Dokgo Seong’s Sword Thunder. After a brief moment, we held our breaths and struck a fierce collision of swords.

Ka-kaang!

“……!!”

Even though it was just a brief exchange, I had to witness my sword shatter and fly backward. There was no way my Sword Qi, infused with true energy, should have lost out as it met the Sword Thunder; yet at the moment of contact, my Sword Qi was severed like tofu. As I panicked, Dokgo Seong chuckled.

“In practice, you wouldn’t take it head-on as you just did. By employing variations, you can avoid being cut. However, the Sword Thunder at its peak can cleave through anything, Sword Qi or otherwise.”

“During our last match, it didn’t seem so powerful…”

“Why would I use my full strength now that you’ve become my disciple?”

Dokgo Seong muttered while sheathing his sword.

“Well, if I intended to settle the matter, I would have done so long ago.”

“……”

It seemed that Dokgo Seong had been holding back a lot from the very start. He certainly lived up to being the top master of the Thunder God Lineage. As I stood stiffly, he elaborated,

“Sword Thunder isn’t merely about condensing the Thunder Spirit. One could say it’s the lightning of thought.”

“Lightning of thought…”

“What is Sword Qi? It’s the most efficient and powerful weapon created through intent rather than mere energy. Its strength and form evoke the imagery of a constellation; hence it’s called ‘Qi.’ Likewise, while Sword Thunder resembles lightning, its essence is entirely different.”

He interlaced his fingers and continued,

“Create lightning within your heart. That lightning is the fastest, strongest, and most liberated in the world. Consider the Thunder God Sword Dance as the most fitting training to nurture the lightning within.”

“I understand.”

In essence, the Thunder God Sword Dance was a form designed to cultivate the Sword Thunder!

Although it took little time to familiarize myself with the forms of the Thunder God Sword Dance, the reason it would take at least ten years to reach mastery was precisely because of this. It required ample time to develop and enhance one’s own Sword Thunder based on the foundation of the Thunder God Sword Dance.

The mastery of Sword Thunder should be viewed as an upgraded version of Sword Qi!

There is indeed no doubt that it’s claimed to be the pinnacle of the Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts.

As I fervently meditated on creating Sword Thunder, I grew curious and asked Dokgo Seong,

“Yet, given that Sword Thunder is such an extraordinary realm, why does it fall short against spear techniques?”

The offensive power of Sword Thunder was indeed tremendous. Dokgo Seong had been able to pressure even the Sword Demon into a mutual destruction scenario using Sword Thunder, and he had cleaved through dozens of monstrous worms in a single strike. Among all the martial arts I had seen, its offensive capability was the highest, even making Lee Gwang’s Thunderbolt Technique look pathetic in comparison.

So why was the Thunder God Lineage’s Sword Thunder so heavily outdone by spear techniques?

That was something I simply couldn’t understand.

Then, with a slightly uncomfortable expression, Dokgo Seong said,

“The spear techniques have reached a realm of their own with their version of Sword Thunder.”

“Excuse me?”

“Specifically, it’s known as the Heavenly Thunder (天雷) and is identified as the ultimate principle of the Thunder God Lineage. Thus, even a master of the Heavenly Thunder Spear will inevitably achieve the state of generating lightning from their mind. However, the spear technique poses no weak intervals through the process, continuously exhibiting overwhelming power.”

“……”

“The Heavenly Thunder itself is a stage achievable through the techniques of the Gwi Hon Ilpa.”

This was the first I was hearing of it.

“Of course, among the current survivors of the Thunder God Lineage, very few have reached the Heavenly Thunder state. Even the Thunderbolt Three Saints, including that Cheongwol fella, have not yet attained it.”

“What do you mean? Are you saying that during the golden age of the Thunder God Lineage, there were many who reached the Heavenly Thunder state?”

Dokgo Seong nodded.

“Most certainly. Back then, there were at least three or four who reached that stage, alongside me and Lee Cheong-un. They probably were all killed during the purge of the Thunder God Lineage or have since gone into hiding.”

“Hmm.”

“I entered the Thunder God Lineage precisely because I admired such supremely powerful martial arts.”

This was unexpected information. If Dokgo Seong was to be believed, then during the golden age of the Thunder God Lineage, there were several unmatched masters far beyond the current Thunderbolt Three Saints? Comparing them with the powers of the martial world left me trembling.

‘The former strength of the Thunder God Lineage could easily annihilate the Nine Great Sects.’

And that meant the sect leader had purged such mighty masters from the Thunder God Lineage. Now I understood why the survivors feared the White Lotus Sect so much.

Suddenly, I recalled the Celestial Shattering Technique used by Lee Gwang in the past when trying to revive the Thunder God Lineage.

‘Could the Celestial Shattering Technique also have been part of the Heavenly Thunder stage?’

The Celestial Shattering Technique involved the forces of space intertwining with Jang Sam-bong’s luxury and ferocity. At that time, my level was too low for me to grasp what that meant.

However, upon listening to Dokgo Seong, I realized that at that time, Lee Gwang must have elevated his martial arts to master the Heavenly Thunder and used that power to easily pierce through the defensive barriers of the Wind God Lineage’s protector, Yongbi-cheon, and sever his arm. Dokgo Seong’s claim that even spear masters could reach the Heavenly Thunder was starting to seem plausible.

“Then, did you reach the ultimate limit of the Heavenly Thunder?”

When I asked, Dokgo Seong displayed a shy expression.

“If I had, no matter how great the Great Immortal might be, I wouldn’t have been so easily beaten by Lee Dong-bin. I’m not even a fraction of the level Lee Cheong-un reached after six years.”

Dokgo Seong was a man without false pride. Being a dedication-driven practitioner who has spent his whole life enhancing his martial arts, it was natural for him to have an objective view of himself. However, I was left astounded by his humility, mumbling,

“How can a human be that strong…”

“My former apprentice, the protector of the Wind God Lineage, Lee Cheong-un, was a prodigy without equal, and the only master capable of opposing the sect leader. He was believed to have reached a stage that surpassed the Heavenly Thunder for the first time in the history of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“What is that stage?”

“I don’t know. I suspect it’s an absolute state, but it was too far above my understanding.”

“Hmm…”

“Let’s stop rambling here.”

Dokgo Seong said with sharp eyes,

“You can’t beat Lee Cheong-un yet, let alone me. Focus on your training.”

“… Yes.”

That hit home. I wasn’t at a level where I could mention the legendary protector of the Thunder God Lineage. If I went full tilt against Dokgo Seong, I would probably get slaughtered in under three hundred shots. Even if I risked everything to use the Da Ra Myel Jin and conjure my thunder, it wouldn’t mean much in the end.

As I awkwardly resumed my training, Dokgo Seong remarked,

“And in a month, I plan to pause my training to seek out Taesan Noong, so keep that in mind.”

“Already?”

When I questioned, Dokgo Seong nodded.

“It seems Cheongwol has greatly recovered his weakened body and mind. It’s time to find Taesan Noong and give him a good talking to.”

“Don’t you think that’s too early?”

“If we delay any longer, it will be troublesome. To revive the Thunder God Lineage, we need to grasp the whereabouts of the remaining survivors. Rather than seeking just Taesan Noong, we have a broader goal.”

“……”

It appeared this day had come. Currently, Dokgo Seong was gaining confidence from practicing the skills of the Wudang School and seemed ready to act out of a sense of duty as a protector of the Thunder God Lineage. Naturally, his goal would be to revive the Thunder God Lineage, so wanting to know the whereabouts of any survivors made sense.

‘What should I do?’

If I lent him the knowledge and wisdom I possessed, the Thunder God Lineage could thrive in no time. It would likely become a force much stronger than before, maybe even independent from the White Lotus Sect. However, I knew that there was a pointlessly pathetic emptiness to it all, so I was troubled.

After a moment, I decided to gamble.

“Master, I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

I looked him straight in the eyes and said,

“I believe the true intent of the sect leader is to obtain the final technique of the Thunder God Lineage. Without the final technique, reviving the Thunder God Lineage would be meaningless. Because you would only be pulled into the clutches of the sect leader and ultimately consumed.”

Gasp!

Dokgo Seong reacted violently. He seemed deeply surprised, not hiding his expression at all. He exclaimed angrily,

“Final technique?! Who did you hear that from?!”

“……”

Silently, I retrieved the obsidian I had stored within my robe and held it out to him. Now that I had used up all the obsidian mined from Dongyeong, I’d have to mine again. I looked directly at Dokgo Seong and continued,

“Would you like to see my memories?”

I had no choice but to gamble.

Before joining forces with Mangnyang, I needed to gather allies and strength. In this situation, letting Dokgo Seong act arbitrarily to revive the Thunder God Lineage would spell disaster. While I still didn’t trust Dokgo Seong completely, I had to take the gamble of accepting him as my true ally.

Dokgo Seong shot me a glare that could kill, then placed his hand on the obsidian.

Woooooooom!!

“……!!”

For a moment, Dokgo Seong absorbed my memories and appeared lost in thought. It seemed he was thrown into confusion from reading my memories. Then, he opened his mouth, seemingly flabbergasted.

“A reborn person… Right… So that’s why your external achievements and talent don’t match.”

“Indeed.”

I knelt down in reverence, cupping my fists as I replied,

“As you’ve seen in my memories, even if we were to revive the Thunder God Lineage, we would still need to obtain the sect leader’s ultimate intention. That person deliberately left the Thunder God Lineage alive to acquire the final technique. If we act rashly, we might lose our lives forever.”

“……”

“With you, Lee Gwang, and Jin So-cheong present, we can rise whenever we choose. But now is a time to accumulate our strength.”

Dokgo Seong remained silent for quite a while.

Then he spoke,

“I don’t understand. You already rank among the top transcendental masters in the world, and you’re knowledgeable in medicine as well as various other fields. Moreover, you could enjoy wealth and prosperity with the power of treasures and knowledge, yet you’re not completely invested in reaching the extreme of martial arts. Why do you persist in struggling against large powers like the Heavenly Realm and Imperial Palace for over a hundred years?”

I bitterly smiled and replied,

“I don’t think I could endure an oppressive force of a transcendent entity for eternity.”

“Are you trying to confirm the lid on that which is far beyond?”

“I will do so, no matter how many hundreds of years it takes.”

“What a remarkable fellow…”

Dokgo Seong muttered, seemingly stunned.

“Fine. Since it’s a difficult proposal to refuse, I shall accept it. I will now stand as your ally and fight alongside you.”

“Thank you.”

I let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Dokgo Seong had surprisingly accepted this without much fuss.

“However, there’s a price to pay. You must listen to what I say.”

“What is it?”

Dokgo Seong said emphatically.

“Use the power of the Gods to kill the sect leader!”

Using the power of reversal to assassinate the sect leader?

That was a demand I hadn’t anticipated at all. I was taken aback as Dokgo Seong chuckled slyly.

“All you need to do is eliminate the sect leader. Everything else will fall into place.”