Reincarnation Sword God

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Heavenly Realm

I entered the Shaolin Temple’s inner sanctum under the guidance of Master Myung-ho. Instead of heading to the area bustling with general disciples, we ventured deeper into the grounds. Soon, we arrived at a place with a towering pagoda and the Great Hero Hall. Master Myung-ho pointed towards a mountain behind the Great Hero Hall and said,

“There is the Heavenly Altar behind that mountain.”

“……”

I couldn’t help but think that infiltrating the Heavenly Altar here was almost impossible. The Great Hero Hall was the meeting place for the top masters of Shaolin—as well as its most revered leaders—making the trek to the mountain behind the Great Hero Hall daunting, to say the least. It could very well be a place where one might have to risk their life.

I questioned Master Myung-ho,

“What do you mean by saying Master Mangnyang mentioned something?”

“I’ll explain that shortly.”

Briefly answering, Master Myung-ho turned to his fellow disciples around us,

“Please wait here.”

“Yes.”

Whoosh!

I leaped up the mountain with Master Myung-ho using light body technique. Before long, we reached the site referred to as the Heavenly Altar. As I gazed at its structure, I recognized its similarity to the one on Mount Huang. The maintenance conditions might differ, but it was essentially the same.

Master Myung-ho spoke,

“This Heavenly Altar is always cared for by the Shaolin disciples. Unlike the other Heavenly Altars of the Five Great Mountains, they are always vigilant.”

“What do you mean?”

“Only Shaolin among the current Five Great Mountains understands the significance of the Heavenly Altar. It is passed down that this place is the site of a myth that twisted the connection between heaven and earth…”

“……!!”

Master Myung-ho slowly walked towards the Heavenly Altar. Touching the large stele erected at its center, he continued,

“It’s said that when the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors severed the connection between heaven and earth, the function of the Heavenly Altar became null and void. The moment it lost its function, the deities found it hard to intervene with humanity, and human ascent to the heavens also became difficult.”

“If the Heavenly Altar no longer functions, then what’s the point of maintaining it?”

“Even if it has lost its function, it still remains a Heavenly Altar. It is a passageway created by the gods to connect to the mortal realm. Who knows when or how it might be needed again? It is our duty to maintain it until that day comes.”

“……”

I realized that Master Myung-ho was well-versed in mythical traditions—he might be a sorcerer after all. I glared at him, saying,

“You’re hiding something, and it seems to involve Master Mangnyang…”

Master Myung-ho responded candidly,

“Why would I? Master Mangnyang is the overseer of all mystical practitioners in the continent and a guardian deity of humans. Mr. Bin has been under Master Mangnyang’s guidance since childhood.”

“Since childhood?”

“Not just Mr. Bin. All mortals owe their survival to his efforts.”

What on earth does that mean?

Seeing my puzzled expression, Master Myung-ho elaborated,

“Master Mangnyang frequently bestows the blessing of breaking through barriers upon outstanding heroes and true practitioners so that mortals with a destiny to perish can grow and stand against evil to uphold justice.”

“What?!”

I was taken aback. That annoying black cat had such abilities! Seeing my shock, Master Myung-ho said,

“As you know, this world is filled with colossal evil deities and their followers known as the ‘Old Rulers.’ It is only natural for human thought and culture to become easily tainted by evil tendencies. The reason humanity can pursue good and justice is that Master Mangnyang blocks the influence of these misdeeds.”

“……”

“He cannot be judged through the values of Buddhism or Taoism; he is a far more cosmic entity.”

I had never considered that.

“Today, he even predicted your visit with a dream, allowing Mr. Bin to speak to you.”

As I pondered over this, I began to understand that Master Mangnyang’s role was unexpectedly monumental, but still, I didn’t feel any respect for that cat. How many times must I endure his vexing behavior without clear assistance?

“Why did Master Mangnyang let me know this?”

Master Myung-ho smiled softly,

“Surely it was to show you the Heavenly Altar. If Mr. Bin hadn’t intervened, would you have had the chance to see the Heavenly Altar of Songshan?”

“Uh… probably not.”

I admitted honestly. The masters of Master Myung-ho’s generation within the Shaolin disciples were top-tier practitioners across the martial world. There was no guarantee I’d survive a fight against them, and if the temple summoned 108 Arhats or the Four Heavenly Kings during a conflict, I would surely perish. It was doubtful whether my now ample abilities would suffice for a covert infiltration.

‘What an enormous difficulty level!’

I shivered inwardly. To gaze upon the Heavenly Altar of Songshan, one might literally have to stake their life. After Master Myung-ho bowed in reverence at the Heavenly Altar, he uttered,

“Master Mangnyang instructed that I help you. Thus, if the need arises to combat evil entities, the Shaolin Temple will support you.”

“I appreciate your words, but…”

I was taken aback by Master Myung-ho’s sudden offer.

Aiding from the renowned Shaolin Temple, the cornerstone of the Orthodox Martial World!

All due to a word from Master Mangnyang!

From the perspective of my previous life, it was undoubtedly incredible assistance, yet I couldn’t readily accept it. I felt as though I was being swept along by the uncertain intentions of that black cat. Still, given my current predicament, declining this offer wasn’t an option, so I nodded.

“… No, thank you.”

“Did you come to Songshan to visit the Heavenly Altar?”

“Not really.”

I explained my questions regarding the Old Sage of Mount Tai and how I was traversing the Five Great Mountains to find him. I also detailed the tragedy that had unfolded in the Huashan Sect. Master Myung-ho listened intently before speaking,

“The Huashan Sect once held a robust sorcery lineage that rivaled its headquarters, but they focused solely on expanding their martial influence, diminishing the role of sorcerers. As a result, their sorcerers eventually separated and left. Hence, when the Otherworldly Beings attacked, they were clearly ill-prepared…”

“That’s true. It seems that sorcery is more effective against Otherworldly Beings than martial skills.”

After nodding, Master Myung-ho said,

“There must be a hidden force behind the Otherworldly Beings that invaded the Huashan Sect, and that root must be connected to the Old Sage of Mount Tai. I will also look into the Old Sage from the temple’s end.”

“Thank you.”

I figured there was no need to reveal to Master Myung-ho that I was a reincarnator. Although I inadvertently mentioned it to Dokgo Seong, I had no trust established with Master Myung-ho. Suddenly, I remembered something and asked him,

“I hear the Old Sage visited the Heavenly Altar a year ago. Do you know what level of mastery he possesses? Any specific traits?”

“He always wears a gray robe and conceals his appearance under a conical hat. As for his mastery…” Master Myung-ho paused, “He’s incredibly strong.”

“How strong?”

“Even Mr. Bin would not be confident in defeating him. He undoubtedly stands at the pinnacle of martial prowess— a supreme master who could contend for the position of the best in the world, should he not be the guardian deity.”

“Hmm…”

I frowned. Since my disciple Sagong Rin’s remarks held no objectivity, I hadn’t trusted them fully, yet this confirmation from Master Myung-ho shed light on the overwhelming level of the Old Sage’s mastery. Without a doubt, he would be beyond my current capability to handle. Comparatively speaking, it seemed there wouldn’t be anyone who could match his skills, barring the guardian deities.

‘This is going to be a headache.’

As if sensing my apprehension, Master Myung-ho added,

“The reason he was allowed to visit the Heavenly Altar is that they thought he was a hidden reclusive master of the Taoist sect here to perform a rite. However, if he indeed has suspicious motives, then that could have been part of his scheme.”

“But you told me the Heavenly Altar has already lost its function?”

He shook his head.

“No, the one who severed its function could very well restore it.”

“……!!”

“Of course, it can’t be done by human means alone, but it’s not impossible.”

“Uh-oh…”

Master Myung-ho mumbled in concern.

“Do you have any further inquiries?”

After thinking for a moment, I asked,

“This might be a bit trivial, but could you indulge me?”

“Go ahead.”

“You must know General Jin Cheon-hwi. What’s your connection to him?”

“Ha ha…”

Master Myung-ho chuckled at what seemed to be an unexpected question. Laughing heartily, he replied,

“Quite the surprise. Why do you think that?”

“I just had a hunch.”

“Seems like a practitioner of Master Mangnyang, adept at concealment.”

Master Myung-ho smiled ruefully and continued,

“I have a long-standing relationship with General Jin Cheon-hwi. I’ve been spared my life on more than one occasion thanks to his strategy.”

“Did you also know that he was actually of royal blood?”

A jolt!

This time, Master Myung-ho tensed visibly, letting out a soft sigh,

“Do not carelessly speak such truths outside. Had you not known Master Mangnyang, you could have been in serious trouble here.”

“Erm… I apologize.”

“It is one of the most crucial secrets in the world.”

Gazing at the sky with an inscrutable expression, Master Myung-ho said,

“Should it be true that General Jin’s only son survived a rebellion, he would be crowned as the rightful heir to the throne—preceding the current emperor in the line of succession.”

“Preceding?”

“The current emperor lacks legitimacy. I shall only say thus much from my position.”

“I understand.”

Through Master Myung-ho, I received confirmation about my suspicions.

‘Jin So-cheong should have become emperor by right.’

It seemed that when this I 광 was expelled from the Divine Dragon Order, he secretly protected Jin So-cheong and took him out of the palace with the help of Hwang Yeon and others who were likely aware of this fact. It appeared they shared a secret alliance.

However, it seemed there was variance in their opinions regarding Jin So-cheong. Master Myung-ho and General Hwang Yeon thought he should ascend the throne, while the protector I 광 seemed more inclined to nurture Jin So-cheong purely as a master of the martial world.

‘What could be the reason for that?’

I felt that I should have a candid conversation with I 광 sooner rather than later. Despite the pressure from Dokgo Seong, I realized I did not know a fundamental truth about I 광.

‘Indeed. If I were to tie up my tangled fate, I should be thorough.’

As my thoughts settled, I bowed to Master Myung-ho,

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

“May I know your next destination?”

“I imagine you can guess.”

“Ha ha, you caught me.”

Master Myung-ho chuckled awkwardly and said,

“I’ll give you a warning. Be careful of his swordplay when confronting the Old Sage. That swordplay is incredibly powerful.”

“Is it the Gongsun Sword Technique?”

Master Myung-ho nodded.

“It’s one of the legendary techniques that cemented his place in the top three. Tread with caution!”

“Yes.”

After acquiring information from Master Myung-ho, I headed towards Mount Tai.

Whsh!

‘While it hasn’t been a month as we agreed upon…’

I thought it highly likely that the Old Sage was hiding in Mount Tai. There were no signs of him in the surrounding areas of the Huashan Sect, Mount Huang, Hengshan, or Songshan. I couldn’t be entirely certain but had scoured the mountains enough. I would need to inspect Mount Tai one more time before thoroughly combing through the other four mountains, but for now, Mount Tai seemed like the most reliable place to search.

Upon arriving near Mount Tai, I contemplated what to do.

“Hmm… should I stop by Chilsal Village?”

Dokgo Seong had instructed me to assassinate the Leader of the White Lotus Sect. The logic was simple: if I could take him down, it would eliminate most of the White Lotus Sect’s influence. But currently, the idea of becoming a disciple under the Leader of the White Lotus Sect intrigued me more, so I thought it might be wise to gather information on him before attempting anything. If I did so, I couldn’t afford to waste my chance to eliminate the Leader of the White Lotus Sect, so a visit to Chilsal Village could prove to be a waste of time.

The area around Mount Tai had many checkpoints and guard soldiers. The martial sects here were few, while poor farmer families and bandits were rampant. It was a locale well-suited for confronting the harsh realities of life. Unlike other regions, there weren’t many noteworthy attractions, which made me frown.

‘Let’s check out Mount Tai a bit more before Cheongwol and Dokgo Seong arrive.’

I decided to explore Mount Tai more before my companions arrived. Avoiding the guards’ eyes, I needed to gather information about this place, as it would help in conserving time later. Following that thought, I activated the Demonic Veil and began my search around Mount Tai as if I were a rat searching for crumbs.

Rustle, rustle!

I scoured the vicinity of Mount Tai for about three to four days without a break. Though Mount Tai is substantial, using the Demonic Veil made it quick to inspect. Despite being cautious of the guards and their gaze, they couldn’t detect the pace of my movements with the Demonic Veil. Additionally, should I feel like I might get caught, I would conceal my presence and hide, so there were no noticing eyes around.

After another full day of exploration, I felt disheartened.

The Old Sage of Mount Tai is nowhere to be found!

Despite searching diligently, his presence was completely absent, which suggested two possibilities.

‘He could be within the checkpoint, or perhaps at the peak of Mount Tai…’

I lacked the courage to step into the checkpoint, so I continued roaming the mountainous terrain. Being seen by the guards wouldn’t benefit me anyway. Furthermore, the peak of Mount Tai seemed entirely restricted from civilians due to guard presence. I ran the calculations in my head.

There are four checkpoints surrounding Mount Tai. One is stationed at the peak, while the others are primarily located in valleys. Searching through each checkpoint would be a hurdlesome ordeal.

Moreover, what if the Old Sage were indeed within the checkpoint?

The soldiers stationed at the checkpoints harbored a dislike for martial artists. They inherently viewed mighty martial practitioners as elements that disrupt public order. This perspective applied even to the great guardian of justice, the Old Sage himself. There would be no reason to allow someone of his stature to linger at a checkpoint.

‘Something seems off.’

With a twinkling hope, I approached the peak checkpoint to take a clandestine look. Around the tower, soldiers were patrolling, along with a few high-ranking military officers. Being soldiers, none displayed remarkable martial skills. However, there were some hesitations preventing me from carelessly infiltrating their ranks.

There are many!

It appeared there were at least a thousand stationed at the peak checkpoint. It was quite incomprehensible to have such a number at a mountain summit, yet it seemed Mount Tai played an important role in the royal authority during sacrificial rites. If that many soldiers were stationed, I certainly wouldn’t dare infiltrate their ranks, so ultimately, I gave up.

Furthermore, near that peak checkpoint, there were smaller checkpoints and watchtowers. If any commotion were to arise, reinforcements would likely arrive in no time, with five thousand or more soldiers likely to support within half a quarter of an hour. It was an impenetrable fortress indeed.

So, I decided to wait for Cheongwol and Dokgo Seong while camping near the entrance of Mount Tai. I knew that, without a doubt, both of them would sense my presence and find me.

As expected, a few days later, Cheongwol in a conical hat and Dokgo Seong arrived at the makeshift shelter I had made.

“How have you been?”

“Good to see you, Master.”

As I bowed slightly, Dokgo Seong chuckled.

“Ha ha ha, it was fun touring the world for a change.”

“Where did you wander?”

“Just went to pay a visit to I 광.”

“……!!”

I was taken aback. Just as I was processing this surprise, the quiet Cheongwol spoke up,

“I told I 광 to cooperate with us.”

“What do you mean…”

Just then,

“Ah! Young Hero! Long time no see!”

A cheerful voice echoed from the entrance. I turned to look, half-expecting, and I was greeted by a familiar face.

“Jin So-cheong…!!”

“Cough!”

And beside Jin So-cheong stood the grumpy I 광. It seemed he had been dragged along by sheer insistence. As I stood there dumbfounded, Dokgo Seong spoke up,

“Looks like you arrived earlier than expected; please share the current situation.”

“Yes.”

I recounted my earlier travels and spoke of the tragedy at the Huashan Sect while also mentioning the likelihood of the Old Sage being at the peak checkpoint of Mount Tai. Upon hearing this, Dokgo Seong clenched his fist firmly.

“Alright, let’s go!”

“Go… go?”

Dokgo Seong grinned widely.

“With this crew gathered, what is there to be afraid of? Let’s smash them all!”

A basic stationed force of about a thousand troop members. Plus, if they were reinforced, they’d have at least five thousand soldiers.

This was literally a call to attack an impregnable fortress with just five people! My face turned pale in sheer horror, but I lost the words to express my dismay when Cheongwol said with glimmering eyes,

“It feels exciting after such a long time.”

“……”

Are they serious?

Thousands of soldiers, for crying out loud!

Just as I was in a daze, the relatively level-headed I 광 stepped in,

“While taking down those soldiers isn’t insurmountable, we must first confirm if the Old Sage is actually present there.”

“Hmm, you’re right! Then I 광, you go check it out. You’ve been in the military before, right?”

I 광 grimaced briefly at the command. It looked like he was shuddering at Dokgo Seong’s reckless mentality.

“… Having retired to the wild, if I go back, it will only raise suspicion.”

“How frustrating! Come on, what were you doing in your position?”

“Sorry… sorry.”

Dokgo Seong clicked his tongue, and I 광 cautiously continued,

“For my successors and alumni, I have sent a message to them. Just wait a few days.”

As he mentioned, as expected, two days later, a messenger sent by General Jang Gyeong-ik from Shandong arrived, along with two or three officers. They greeted I 광, saying,

“We bring the orders of General Jang; here’s your pass.”

“Thanks for your effort.”

“I’ll take my leave now!”

Clang clang!

After the officers departed, I 광 handed me the pass,

“This is the pass issued by Jang Gyeong-ik. With this, it will be easy to determine whether the Old Sage is there or not.”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm.”

I 광 turned his face away, sending a mental transmission to me,

[Whatever your scheme might be, if you try taking advantage of our Thunder God lineage, I won’t stand by.]

It seemed I 광 had come out here under duress but was still wary of me. It was understandable, given the circumstances. Still, my feelings towards I 광 weren’t exactly warm either, compelling me to shoot back with a mental message,

[What are you scheming? Why train Jin So-cheong, the rightful heir to the throne, with your Thunder God lineage?]

At that instant, I 광 abruptly halted, fire igniting in his eyes as he replied,

“… It seems I must settle things with you sooner or later!”

Boom!

The Thunder God energy surged.

His murderous intent erupted dangerously. I hadn’t seen this intense an aura from him since our last duel, and suddenly, my heart rate quickened with unease.

Could I 광 really be a martial artist who grows stronger in life-and-death confrontations?

As I sensed I 광’s energy boiling, Dokgo Seong stepped in between, waving his arms. As the energy from their duel clashed and fizzled out, Dokgo Seong tutted,

“I광 and Baek Woong, you both have such fiery blood in your youth. You must maintain restraint.”

“I apologize.”

“I apologize.”

Dokgo Seong continued with a frown,

“If this happens again on our way to Mount Tai, I won’t let you off the hook.”

“Understood.”

And so, we set off towards Mount Tai.

As we climbed, Jin So-cheong sent me a mental message.

[Baek Woong, please don’t argue with Master.]

[What do you mean?]

[Master is genuinely pleased with the emergence of a peerless guardian of the Thunder God lineage; I think we should work together well moving forward.]

[……]

I wondered if that was truly possible.

I felt a sense of skepticism but opted to keep my comments to myself.