Reincarnation Sword God

---

Heavenly Realm

As we breached the outer walls of the Imperial Palace, I witnessed the masters of the White Lotus Sect‘s Protection Lineage charging towards the Imperial Guards at the front. The captain of the Imperial Guards waved his hand and shouted,

“Hold back the enemies!!”

Observing from a slight distance, I couldn’t help but exhale quietly upon seeing that thousands of guards had gathered in the spacious plaza.

‘So many!’

And every single one of them was properly armed and had received formal martial arts training! The way they formed a defense line was imposing enough to create a sensation of pressure. Yet, against the thousands of Imperial Guards, the White Lotus Sect had only about seven or so Protection Lineage masters charging in. To anyone, it looked like throwing eggs at a rock.

Kaboom!

On top of that, the Imperial Guards began firing their cannons. One of the Protection Lineage masters couldn’t evade the cannonball that flew from afar and got hit. Cannon fire rained down from dozens of cannons all at once.

Ku-gu-gu…

However, when the smoke cleared, the Protection Lineage master appeared unscathed. Clad in black robes with a water motif engraved on his back, he was wearing a mask. Around him, a transparent Protection Energy Technique enveloped his body.

“……!!”

“Oh my!”

We were astonished by that martial prowess.

Blocking cannon fire with a Protection Energy Technique!

While the peak experts usually use their protective energy to fend off powerful attacks, cannon fire was a different story. No matter how much energy one gathers to boost their defense, there are limits to stopping something as forceful as cannon fire. Yet this master of the Protection Lineage concentrated his energy to withstand dozens of cannon shots with his bare body. I had no idea if I could pull that off.

The Sword Demon murmured,

“Hmm… Was that intentional?”

Given the master’s skills, he could have easily predicted where the cannon would fire and evaded it. So the fact that he got hit seemed like a display of his protective energy’s might. Sure enough, that show of strength left the Imperial Guards at the forefront trembling in fear.

“Ahhh!”

“Monster!”

Puff!

Eventually, as the Protection Lineage masters approached the Imperial Guards, they waved their hands to unleash their energy. Waves of light surged forth and swept away dozens of Imperial Guards at a time. While I knew that the Imperial Guards trained martial arts comparable to those of the martial world, they couldn’t withstand the sheer onslaught of energy from the Protection Lineage masters.

“Uaaah!”

“Fight back, fight!! We can’t retreat!!”

Kaboom!!

Screams and chaos erupted, causing the front lines of the Imperial Guards to crumble in an instant. The Protection Lineage masters were rampaging through like lions among sheep, and there was no one brave enough to stand against them. Moreover, despite continuously emitting energy, they seemed unfazed by fatigue.

Thump!

As we watched this scene unfold, we debated whether to intervene, just then, one of the Protection Lineage masters appeared beside us using Lee Hyeong-hwan‘s lightness technique. He was also wearing a mask and spoke to us with his arms crossed.

“You all should head to the Inner Palace. The Sect Leader is waiting for you.”

“Are you sure you won’t help?”

“The Elders Council will join shortly, so there’s no need to worry.”

True to his words, shortly after, masters from the Elders Council appeared here and there, starting to assist the Protection Lineage masters at the front. With dozens of peak experts riled up, the Imperial Guards simply couldn’t cope, and soon chaos engulfed the scene.

Despite thousands of Imperial Guards being replenished from all around, the White Lotus Sect masters appeared unconcerned. Masters from the Wind God Lineage and Fire God Lineage also rushed in, engaging in a direct battle. While the Imperial Palace boasted greater numbers, the density of skill demonstrated a vastly different story.

“Well then…”

Pah!

We began to evade the battlefield and headed toward the Inner Palace by jumping across rooftops. Sounds of weapons clashing and shouting echoed from all directions, reminding me that this was indeed a real battlefield.

Then,

“Urrrrgh!!”

One of the White Lotus Sect masters screamed as he was brutally killed. The sight of him being torn apart in one attack was horrifically brutal.

“You bastard!!”

His nearby allies, filled with rage, charged at the enemies in front of them. They appeared to be masters of the Wind God Lineage, using their Wind Blade Technique while combining their efforts as they attacked, producing a bizarre screech that echoed through the air.

Rumble!

“Ugh!”

Incredible strength and speed! Five Wind God Lineage masters lunged at once, but in an instant, three of them fell dead. Upon closer inspection, their opponent was no longer human as their head took on a lizard-like form, and their entire body was covered in black scales. Seeing this, Dokgo Seong yelled sharply,

“A Dragon Person!”

“They’ve started sending out Superhuman Soldiers.”

It seemed that the Imperial Guards outside could no longer hold their own and had opted to respond with Superhuman Soldiers from within.

Rumble…

As expected, Dragon Persons began to emerge one by one from various spots, all of them appearing to be on the verge of transforming into Black Dragons. They had already shed their human forms.

The Sword Demon exclaimed,

“Engaging them head-on would be foolish. We need to get out of here.”

With the skills of the masters gathered here, we could handle about ten Dragon Persons. However, we had no idea how many more of those or the Demon Soldiers would show up, and they weren’t exactly weak foes. Just then, Zhuge Sa, standing nearby, chuckled and said,

“Leave it to me!”

Woosh!

As Zhuge Sa threw talismans into the air, a dark barrier enveloped us. When that shroud surrounded our group, the Dragon Persons stood bewildered, even though we were mere three meters away from them. Eventually, Zhuge Sa strolled away, and the Dragon Persons passed right by us, oblivious. I was intrigued and asked,

“Is this also a technique of deception?”

“I infused it with the essence of another race. Just don’t attack them. If we strike first, the illusion will break.”

“I understand.”

We began sneaking deeper into the palace, having passed through the encirclement of Dragon Persons. Behind us, we could hear the White Lotus Sect masters charging in to wrestle with the Dragon Persons and Demon Soldiers. The peak experts from the White Lotus Sect also seemed to be tired, struggling to contend with the Dragon Persons’ innate physical abilities.

Moments later, as we reached the innermost area before the Emperor’s Great Dragon Hall, the Sect Leader was there alongside three Dharma Protector Lions. The Sect Leader glanced at me and said,

[You’re late.]

It was the first time seeing the true form of the Sect Leader of the White Lotus Sect!

He wore a purple robe embroidered with golden threads and donned a crown on his head. Moreover, he wore a mask that had no features or expressions, making it all the more chilling.

Surprisingly, he appeared rather petite. His shoulders looked slightly narrow and he didn’t have the physique suitable for martial arts. Yet, I could vividly sense the menacing power emanating from within him.

The Sect Leader said,

[There’s a powerful barrier set around the Great Dragon Hall. Do you have any means to breach it?]

Hearing this, Cheon Woo-jin took a quick glance at the Great Dragon Hall and responded,

“The Eight Trigrams Array. I’ll disable it from outside, so you all go ahead.”

[Hooh… Is that possible?]

The Sect Leader replied with awe.

[Baek Woong, you have some good companions.]

“……”

I found myself at a loss for words. Until now, I still didn’t know the Sect Leader‘s real intentions. One thing was for sure: he didn’t seem keen on attacking the Thunder God Lineage here.

Crackle!

As Cheon Woo-jin seemed to create a gap in the Eight Trigrams Array, cracks appeared on the previously sturdy facade of the Great Dragon Hall. The distorted gap in the void became visible to the naked eye. Cheon Woo-jin warned us,

“Only those who can protect themselves should enter! If you enter with mediocre skills, you’ll meet a gruesome end.”

[Right… We need to deal with the rabble around here too.]

Swish!

A presence of Superhuman Soldiers was felt approaching from the surroundings. Though the Sect Leader and the Dharma Protector Lions had already dealt with quite a few, it seemed that this area was viewed as the most important, with ceaseless reinforcements arriving. The Sect Leader, glancing at the enemies, clenched his fist impatiently.

[Die.]

Blam!

[Kweeek!!]

“……!!”

Everyone present was astonished. Just by clenching his fist, the twenty or so Dragon Persons that had swarmed in were annihilated in a single blow. The combat power of Dragon Persons was comparable to that of peak experts, yet their slaughter in an instant transcended human martial arts. I was stunned, and even the Dharma Protector Lions could not mimic such authority.

The sheer power of the Sect Leader made the Dragon Persons retreat in fright. After surveying the area, the Sect Leader spoke,

[The Dharma Protector Lions and I will go in. Will you join us, Baek Woong?]

“Of course.”

[I’ll go ahead.]

Pah!

With that, the Sect Leader and the Dharma Protector Lions entered the Great Dragon Hall. Just then, Zhuge Sa advised,

“Baek Woong, don’t go in.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let the battle commence. It’s better to wait here until the Sect Leader and the Emperor exhaust each other.”

It was a sudden proposal from Zhuge Sa. As I stared at him blankly, Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong nearby chimed in,

“That sounds sensible.”

“It seems unlikely that you could help against those monsters anyway.”

The atmosphere shifted toward not needing to follow the Sect Leader in. It appeared that Zhuge Sa’s suggestion was not just sheer madness but a sound reasoning. The thought of the Emperor and the Sect Leader mutually perishing was enticing indeed.

However, after a moment of consideration, I said,

“No, I must follow.”

“Why?”

“The Sect Leader isn’t someone I would take lightly. If I try to play a trick, I have a feeling I would end up being caught in his real fangs. It’s better to observe his actions nearby.”

Through my previous lives, I had encountered the Sect Leader both directly and indirectly. The impression I had was that while the Sect Leader might seem slow and clumsy, he led the battlefield with great cunning and grace. It felt as though he understood well that we would be left behind here, intentionally allowing us to keep an eye on him.

“Ahem…”

The Sword Demon pondered before stating,

“Is that your instinct talking?”

“Yes.”

“Then it must be believed.”

After understanding my words, the Sword Demon spoke to the others,

“Then, let’s secure an exit here.”

“Understood!!”

The masters from Mugyeong Moon rallied loudly at his command. They appeared resolute and committed. Dokgo Seong added,

“Baek Woong, choose someone to go in with you. If possible, someone who can assist you.”

In response to Dokgo Seong’s words, I declared without hesitation,

“I’ll go in alone.”

“What?”

“That’s for the best.”

Having received the blessing from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, I definitely had a strong resistance against their commands. Moreover, I would likely be able to share that protection with my comrades nearby. However, considering how things could unfold, it was indeed best for me to be the one to enter and escape rapidly if needed.

“Hmmm… Then do as you please.”

Though Dokgo Seong and the Sword Demon looked baffled, they eventually agreed to my choice. Just then, Lee Kwang beside me said,

“I’ll follow you too.”

“What do you mean?”

“I won’t be a hindrance.”

In response to Lee Kwang’s words, I coldly retorted,

“That won’t do. You wouldn’t be of any help at all.”

“……”

“If you want to shout and bully, go right ahead. But you don’t belong here.”

It appeared Lee Kwang felt humiliated, as his body started to tremble. Yet, he soon looked at me with gleaming eyes and suddenly knelt down.

“……!!”

“Please, I absolutely need to meet the Emperor.”

I never imagined that this proud Lee Kwang would lower himself to such an extent!

I was flabbergasted, and Jin So-cheong and the other masters beside us shared the same sentiment. Everyone here knew who Lee Kwang was. No one had ever expected that this grand-master would kneel to meet the Emperor in such a fashion. I sighed and said,

“What do you intend to achieve by meeting him? Given how things have escalated, killing him might be the only option.”

“I understand that, but I need to confirm something when I meet him. I’m pleading you to take me along.”

“Umm…”

I could feel Jin So-cheong’s gaze nearby. He wore a sympathetic expression upon seeing his master kneeling before me. It wasn’t an appealing sight to witness one’s only master humbling themselves in front of another.

‘Oh, for crying out loud.’

Reluctantly, I replied,

“… Alright, come along. But know that if things go sideways, I won’t be able to save you.”

“Of course. I’ll safeguard myself.”

“Understood.”

Tap!

Finally, I entered the Great Dragon Hall together with Lee Kwang. Once inside, the true palace before us felt unrecognizable, transformed into a cave brimming with magical energy. The scenery around us changed instantaneously, indicating that this place must have been so heavily exposed to magical forces that it had turned into another realm.

I could hear Cheon Woo-jin’s voice,

[The path through the Eight Trigrams Array has been opened, but it’s not complete. Proceed straight ahead. If you can’t pass through the formation within a meal’s time, you’ll die!]

I decided to heed Cheon Woo-jin’s advice.

“We need to pass through the palace within a meal’s time. We need to reach the chamber of the throne, so follow me.”

“Understood.”

Lee Kwang and I began to dash forward using our lightness techniques.

Eeek!

Suddenly, Dragon Persons and Demon Soldiers appeared from various directions. They charged towards us, using their remarkable physical abilities, and they were incredibly swift. When I blocked one of their claw attacks with my sword, I felt a reverberation through my body. Their destructive power was enormous.

‘Crap… Without using Spirit Separation, I wouldn’t stand a chance against their physical strength.’

While these appeared to be the elite guards, they seemed much stronger than those outside. I was painfully reminded of the might of the Superhuman Soldiers. While a peak expert could potentially win, peak experts are exceptionally rare in this world. Letting these kinds of foes multiply would be disastrous.

Clang!

“Ugh…”

Lee Kwang seemed to be in pain as he swung his spear repeatedly. As five Dragon Persons attacked simultaneously, it was hardly possible for Lee Kwang to hold his ground. After all, Superhuman Soldiers were not beings that humans could contend with. Even managing to face off against them was quite an accomplishment.

I had no choice but to amplify the power of Makya dramatically.

“Cry out, Makya!!”

Ki-gi-gi-ng!

The silver blade shone like the sun, radiating outward. In that moment, Makya‘s silver edge moved as if alive and sliced through time and space, cleaving all the enemies in one fell swoop. In an instant, those charging Dragon Persons were rendered shredded and weak.

Thud!

“Wooah… Whew…”

“Are you alright?”

It seemed that Lee Kwang was already quite fatigued. After all, a single Dragon Person was a formidable opponent, let alone facing five of them at once. Gritting his teeth, he replied,

“I’m fine… Let’s hurry to the Emperor!”

In that moment, I sensed something peculiar. Lee Kwang‘s obsession felt almost frenzied. It suggested a connection to the warped, fanatical loyalty he harbored. So, I said to him,

“If you find yourself being controlled by the Emperor, I won’t hesitate to cut you down.”

“Do as you please.”

Tap!

As we pressed onward, Dragon Persons kept appearing relentlessly. The Sect Leader and the Dharma Protector Lions had passed on ahead, and despite countless Dragon Persons and Demon Soldiers littering the area as corpses, they still charged forward. At this rate, it felt like there could be hundreds of entities within the Great Dragon Hall. I was truly astounded by the vastness of the White Lotus Sect‘s forces.

‘This madness…’

It was already absurd to think we could topple the Emperor without the White Lotus Sect’s assistance. As I realized how overwhelmingly powerful the Imperial Palace forces became when blessed by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, rage boiled within me.

Ki-gi-gi-ng!

Makya screeched wildly, radiating silver light in response to each strike. It felt like the soaring momentum would increase each time I severed a magical force. I cautiously observed my surroundings for any sign of Yeodong-bin, but it appeared he wasn’t planning on manifesting just yet.

Finally, as we slipped through the light tunnel, I felt a sense of relief having escaped the Eight Trigrams Array.

“I can finally take a breather.”

Taking in the dusty air of the secret chamber, stained with Dragon Person blood, felt oddly gratifying. Just as I was catching my breath, Lee Kwang spoke, his voice laced with astonishment,

“That weapon is truly a divine weapon… to take down those monsters so easily.”

“Don’t get greedy. I’ve risked my life multiple times to acquire this.”

“……”

Then,

“What on earth is happening today? Is the Imperial Palace about to be destroyed?”

A somewhat awkward voice echoed from the darkness. As Lee Kwang and I turned to look, an old man and a middle-aged man stood there.

What was astonishing was that both of them were from the West. With golden hair and blue eyes, they were clearly colorful-eyed people. I opened my mouth to identify these strangers.

“Who are you? Are you allies of the Emperor?”

The old colorful-eyed man bowed his head slightly and responded,

“I am Matteo Ricci, dispatched to the Great Ming Empire in the name of the Jesuit Order… and this here is my bodyguard, Hans Talhoffer.”

The brown-haired middle-aged man next to him nodded politely. He too seemed to be a peak expert in swordsmanship.

“……?”

I was dumbfounded by the sudden appearance of these unexpected visitors.

A missionary?

What on earth were they doing at the Imperial Palace at such a time?

Before I could even respond, Matteo Ricci continued,

“I received information that the Emerald Tablet was in the Imperial Palace, but it seems quite chaotic… I suppose it’s not our place to interfere, so we shall take our leave.”

“Wait! What do you mean?”

“Soon, it feels like a Apostle will descend. You should hurry and escape.”

In no time at all, Matteo Ricci created a weird fish-shaped portal in the air and vanished with Hans Talhoffer. It seemed they had truly shown up awkwardly only to retreat. I found this unexpected encounter jarring, but one fact stuck with me.

‘An Apostle!’

Does that mean Dalki will return soon?

At that moment, I heard Cheon Woo-jin’s voice.

[It seems you’ve managed to break through the Eight Trigrams Array. From my senses, the Sect Leader and the Emperor seem to be in a standoff inside the throne chamber. Hurry there now!]

There was no time to lose.

The true battle was about to begin right before my eyes.