Chapter 225: Chapter 225

Celestial Realm

After hearing Master Minglong’s story, the Sword Demon appeared momentarily in disbelief. It was understandable; as a warrior, his entire life revolved around the martial prowess he honed, and he was almost an atheist at heart. To claim that the incredible strength of the Dharma Protectors—the strongest among the strong—was due to the divine was simply hard for him to accept.

Thus, the Sword Demon fell into a long silence, hesitating for a while before speaking up.

“Okay, let’s say there is a god. Does that mean the Dharma Protectors are borrowing that enormous power for free?”

“Not at all,” Master Minglong responded. “Even with lesser spirits, you must offer an appropriate price to borrow power. If they’re wielding such excessive strength, there’s surely a tremendous cost involved.”

“Tremendous cost, huh…”

The Sword Demon shook his head.

“Master Minglong, it’s hard for me to accept this. Even if there is a god, that sounds too far-fetched.”

“That’s a common perception. However, there’s no other way to explain the Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

Master Minglong seemed confident in his stance, likely due to his Taoist background at the Wudang Sect, which made him familiar with both paths of the mystical arts. The Sword Demon pressed,

“Isn’t there a realm in Taoism that matches the Heavenly Spirit Pill?”

“Are you referring to Rebirth of Flesh?”

“That’s right.”

Rebirth of Flesh!

It was a legendary state where a person sheds their old body and is reborn with an ideal martial physique. It also meant obtaining either a mundane or a peak form, according to what I’d heard, as the proof of the Heavenly Spirit Pill lies in infinite internal energy and the Rebirth of Flesh. So, in a sense, the Sword Demon had a point.

Yet, Master Minglong scoffed.

“That’s absurd! Rebirth of Flesh is merely a phenomenon that occurs when one’s Qi reaches its peak and enlivens the body to its best condition. While the maximum Qi may increase drastically after Rebirth of Flesh, it cannot be compared to the infinite internal energy of the Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

“……?”

I felt a wave of confusion from Master Minglong’s words.

‘Isn’t this different from what Lee Kwang explained?’

I recalled what Lee Kwang had said about the Heavenly Spirit Pill.

[The Heavenly Spirit Pill indicates the opening of the Middle Dantian, where the Qi accumulated in the Lower Dantian overflows and influences the Qi channels and surrounding space. At that time, the collected Qi will formally form a dan*, resulting in a semi-permanent internal energy that doesn’t diminish.]

[However, it seems you’re not quite there yet. To reach the Heavenly Spirit Pill, a special process with your own Qi is required. The proof of attaining the Heavenly Spirit Pill is infinite internal energy and Rebirth of Flesh*…]

[The peak form is also part of Rebirth of Flesh. After going through that process, one may become either youthful again or maintain a peak physique, but since that process hasn’t come to you yet, you don’t have complete access to the Heavenly Spirit Pill*.]

Something felt off.

There seemed to be a contradiction.

No… could it be that something was missing?

As I pondered deeply, my hand shot up. When Master Minglong fixed his gaze on me, I spoke without hesitation,

“Excuse me, but I have a question!”

“What is it?”

“I’ve heard that the Heavenly Spirit Pill indicates the opening of the Middle Dantian, with the Qi from the Lower Dantian overflowing to form a dan and achieving Rebirth of Flesh, but it seems to differ from your explanation, Master Minglong.”

Master Minglong gave me a bewildered look.

“Who said that? A disciple of a Dharma Protector?”

“……”

As I stammered, the Sword Demon stepped in to intervene.

“Leave him be. I’d like to have an answer to the question for now.”

The Sword Demon already knew that I had been expelled from the White Lotus Sect as a Thunder God Lineage, so it was only natural that he considered me his greatest ally in this life. He may not have known that Lee Kwang

was my master, but he understood I had some expertise as a Thunder God Lineage master.

“Hmmm…”

After looking at me with suspicion, Master Minglong finally replied.

“If we presume that Baek Woong’s words are true, then we might be missing a stage.”

“Missing a stage?”

“What he said would be true if the overflow of Qi from the Lower Dantian is merely a prerequisite to form the Heavenly Spirit Pill, not the Heavenly Spirit Pill itself. In other words, one must attain it and then go through Rebirth of Flesh before progressing to the Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

“……!!”

So, Rebirth of Flesh is just a prerequisite, not the final product!

‘What if that means…?’

I recalled what Mangnyang had told me when he embarked on the Transfiguration Lineage in his 14th reincarnation.

[Honestly, I’d love to learn the Water God Lineage,* which is hailed as the strongest among the four great styles, but it seems there’s some special rite to undergo, so I’ve put it off.]

[Special rite?]

[Yes. The leader said that it’s perfectly fine for me to learn the Water God Lineage, but in order to do so, I’d need to undergo a special method for a year in the forbidden ground of the White Lotus Sect. Right now, my current situation is crucial, and there’s too much that seems suspicious, so I couldn’t choose the Water God Lineage.*]

The words of the sword master Kamizumi Nobutsuna also surfaced.

[Those who learn the Water God Lineage will become the strongest under heaven, but will never reach peak mastery.]

[Their martial arts are special techniques that can only be mastered by the bloodline of the White Lotus Sect’s lineage. It can’t really be classified as martial arts. Furthermore, the Water God Lineage is extremely exclusive.]

“……”

As the information swirled in my mind, I reached one conclusion.

‘Could that special rite conducted for a year in the Water God Lineage be related to the Heavenly Spirit Pill?!’

It had to be!

It might institute a unique capability bestowed by the Water God Lineage, but I had a strong hunch that was the case. If the power of the Heavenly Spirit Pill is drawn from divine beings, then the Water God Lineage, which is regarded as holding the power closest to the divine, must surely have a significant connection. Especially if they intentionally dubbed it a ‘rite.’

‘In that case, it makes sense that Lee Kwang doesn’t fully understand the Heavenly Spirit Pill.

Lee Kwang was the chief disciple of the Thunder God Lineage, but he had been expelled from the White Lotus Sect during his youth and likely didn’t receive full instruction. It is highly plausible that he knows of the Heavenly Spirit Pill as a half-truth, leaving out the monumental secrets.

While I was deep in thought, Master Minglong continued speaking.

“As long as we can’t achieve the Heavenly Spirit Pill, challenging the White Lotus Sect is a suicidal act. We either need to possess an equivalent power or learn the ultimate technique that can disregard infinite internal energy and kill them outright.”

The Sword Demon chuckled.

“Both sound insane. The latter is downright unrealistic.”

“That much is true. Such a technique could only be utilized by a Great Immortal. If a mere human attempts to wield it, they’d likely just wither away midway.”

“……”

Amidst their conversation, I discovered yet another possibility. I was aware of the existence of the Great Immortal.

‘The Sword Immortal Yeodong-bin’s Dragon Summoning! That might be possible!’

Yeodong-bin’s ultimate strike might be capable of unleashing a Heavenly dragon from the Celestial Realm, devastating hundreds of square feet! Excluding Dokgo Joon, no one had endured the Dragon Summoning, and even the techniques of the Dharma Protectors couldn’t match its might. Reflecting on it now, Yeodong-bin’s Dragon Summoning could very well be one of the ultimate techniques!

‘Still, that’s quite unrealistic.’

The Dragon Summoning is the ultimate technique of Yeodong-bin, known as the Sword Immortal. Naturally, to use that, one must have mastered the essence of the sword to reach the pinnacle of sword mastery and also open the Eight Gates, which means utilizing it would guarantee death. There’s no point in using it as I’d be dead afterward.

Yet the mere existence of such a possibility was enough. I resolved to ask Yeodong-bin more about the Dragon Summoning

and his sword techniques at the first opportunity.

The Sword Demon remarked,

“It doesn’t matter whether the Heavenly Spirit Pill is godly power or not. The important question is whether we can gain sufficient strength or not.”

“Are you suggesting we cultivate the Floating Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword together?”

“Precisely. Even if we lack infinite internal energy, if we can gain an upper hand in short bursts, we should seize an advantage against the Dharma Protectors.”

“Hmm…”

The Sword Demon struck right to the core.

In fact, I had personally witnessed how Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong overpowered Yongbi-cheon in a short battle due to their mastery of the void. It was evident that the Sword Demon, being an unparalleled genius, had grasped the truths of combat.

‘If we can capitalize on the Dharma Protectors‘ complacency in relying on their superior internal energy to ambush them…’

Of course, that might only work against Yongbi-cheon, but it certainly wouldn’t against Dokgo Jun or Han Baek-ryeong.

Nevertheless, the fact that such a possibility exists was imperative.

Master Minglong pondered for some time before speaking.

“While I welcome this, you have your own sect to consider, so it won’t be easy for you to disappear for long.”

“I trust my disciples. They should be able to fend off mere pests.”

“Well, if that’s the case,” Master Minglong nodded firmly.

“Very well. Then let us three delve into the martial arts together! I’ll inform Clear Wind so that no one in this world can disrupt our training.”

“Ah, before that, I just need to…”

The Sword Demon took me a bit away into the nearby thicket. He gazed at me thoughtfully before quietly speaking.

“You seem to have grasped something.”

“As a Thunder God Lineage disciple, I have suspicions about the Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

“Can you share that with me now?”

“Yes.”

I recounted all the speculations I had just entertained. After listening to my story, the Sword Demon’s brows furrowed slightly, and he remarked,

“That could be… an incredible revelation if true. Yet it’s strange.”

“……”

“Despite your age, you don’t seem to have matured past your youth. You look much younger, yet it’s hard to believe you’ve amassed such significant experience.”

His suspicions were warranted.

‘I can’t push my luck any further.’

The Sword Demon wasn’t someone to be toyed with; he wasn’t a fool. Plus, delving into morality wouldn’t help here.

I realized I couldn’t hide any longer and retrieved a large black obsidian from my pocket. The Sword Demon tilted his head curiously as I declared,

“Will you trust me?”

“I do.”

“In that case, please place your hand on it.”

This was my gamble. Any ordinary person, like Lee Kwang, would have instantly rejected such a suspicious request, likely to bind or kill me. I made this decision under the assumption that the Sword Demon trusted me entirely. After all, Mangnyang and Miho hadn’t yet shared their connections, and the Sword Demon was my only ally.

After a moment of deliberation, the Sword Demon reached out and grasped the obsidian. A sigh of relief escaped me.

“Then… let me show you.”

Fwoosh!!

The memories encapsulated within the obsidian flowed into the Sword Demon in an instant. Upon experiencing the overwhelming amount of information flooding into his mind, his expression shifted from shock to eventual calm. He gazed into the distant sky, reflecting on each memory as it unfolded.

“Hmm…”

After a while, the Sword Demon turned to face me and said,

“So that’s why you turned down my daughter. Makes perfect sense… That’s what it was.”

I shut my eyes tightly. I was prepared to accept death at the hands of the Sword Demon, which I assumed would likely happen. Normally, encountering a reincarnation like me would lead someone to act aggressively.

The Sword Demon remained silent before saying,

“I have a question for you, Baek Woong.”

“Yes.”

His tone was unprecedentedly serious.

“The path you’ve walked… even with all my life experiences through trials and tribulations, I must say it’s a battlefield like none I’ve ever encountered. It would be comical to even attempt to express hardship or effort in your presence. Your life has been filled with more torment and pitiful experiences than any human could imagine.”

Thus beginning, the Sword Demon continued.

“Yet still, you refuse to choose an easy life and continue to fight to topple the Imperial Palace. Even against the Great Immortal of the Celestial Realm. What drives you to fight so fiercely?”

I felt the weight of his question significantly.

I took my time reflecting instead of hastily responding.

However, as I mulled over it, I felt myself getting lost deeper into the mire, so I opted for an honest expression of my thoughts.

“It’s because giving up feels unbearable.”

“Unbearable…? The power of the Imperial Palace is that absolute; you’ve already set yourself up for a comfortable life, yet you still feel that way?”

The Sword Demon questioned. “You could even enjoy a life of luxury as a powerful figure ruling over the kingdom.”

At his words, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Sure, enjoying a life of luxury sounds great. But I still haven’t avenged my friend nor repaid my own grudge. And also, I have a woman I can pour all my affections into.”

“……” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I’m a reincarnator. So consider it from my perspective.”

I tightened my fists.

“How can I live a seemingly endless life chafing under someone else’s tyranny?”

If the Imperial Palace engages in human sacrifices or if the White Lotus Sect wreaks havoc, there’s always a possibility that I could encounter disaster connected to the two. I cannot just shirk my responsibility just because it isn’t my affair. I had experienced numerous times when my actions, or lack thereof, inadvertently led to outcomes I couldn’t foresee.

“……!!”

“Now that feels like a complete waste.”

“I see…”

The Sword Demon appeared to comprehend my sentiments.

Indeed.

As long as opportunities for changing fate through the Heavenly Secret exist, I might have a chance to live a life close to infinity. So, is it worth it to endure the tyranny of the great enemy called the Imperial Palace while I shout, ‘Thank heavens it’s not me’? Can I truly endure it just for the luxury of feasting?

Absolutely not. That would only serve to incite further frustration.

Could I truly ignore their tyranny and live a life of passive indulgence?

I am not particularly righteous.

That would merely be foolish.

I might die multiple times, but I found myself craving pure strength to surpass the Imperial Palace. I believed I needed to become strong enough to crush those Imperial Palace bastards who had tormented Mangnyang and Miho at will. Only then could true happiness come knocking at my door.

I cannot give up until I deliver that solid blow.

Not until I can show Mangnyang and Miho a future filled with happiness—this is where I refuse to back down.

The Sword Demon chuckled softly.

“If you feel that way, then be ready to face your death from this point onward.”

“……!!”

“You’ll have to thoroughly delve into Zhang Sanfeng’s essence just as you did with the Thunder God Lineage. Probably, you’ll need to grasp even the legendary techniques as well!”

I was taken aback.

“Wait, are you truly going to understand me?”

I stuttered in surprise, thinking I would either be outright rejected or attacked. However, unexpectedly, the Sword Demon accepted me.

Sword Demon said,

“To be honest, before hearing your words, I was considering whether or not to kill you.”

He gazed at the skies before proceeding.

“But that was not the case. Your mental fortitude ensures you won’t fall into depravity.”

“Depravity?”

“Anyone who glimpses your memories would be tempted toward depravity. They could lose sight of good and evil, allowing themselves to indulge in chaos…, and ultimately, it would be those closest to you who suffer the most.”

“……”

I was at a loss for words.

In fact, I had considered that at the beginning of this life.

“However, I’m struck by the premonition that you won’t let that happen. You’re the most resilient person I’ve encountered. Who else could die fifteen times and endure being trampled for nearly a century while still harboring righteous thoughts and fervor? Who could face ancient gods without going mad? I certainly wouldn’t.”

The Sword Demon sighed.

“Perhaps this moment is just another trial, and the accumulation of cause and effect is your fate.”

Accumulating cause and effect.

I muttered that phrase as if savoring it.

It rang a bell, as if recognizing an echo of familiarity.

“Have you ever thought of what it means to stand here in this moment? It’s because Mangnyang and Miho have trusted in you until the end. They believed you would never lose your humanity, which is why they were willing to devote their lives for you. You defended them just as they protected you.”

“……!!”

“To be that trusted by someone is no easy feat in life. Not to mention to never betray them…”

As I mused over his words, the Sword Demon locked eyes with me.

“Then I will vow in this place.”

His eyes sparkled.

“I will dedicate my entire life to nurturing your strength! So that you may extend hope into the next life.”

In that instant, an overwhelming emotion welled up inside me.

I felt my throat constrict.

I quickly wiped away the warmth threatening to spill over and replied,

“Thank you.”

Having lived and died repeatedly, I refuse to believe in any miraculous conveniences that apply solely to me.

When it’s time for death, it is but a natural outcome I have experienced time and again.

But now, I longed to believe.

Because I had found someone I could truly trust in this lifetime.