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Dark Heaven Village

Eventually, I returned to the base and discussed with my advisors how to relocate our headquarters to the southern continent. Mangnyang immediately offered his opinion.

“We should use the National Seal to find a suitable place on the southern continent. It should have adequate sunlight, plenty of flora and fauna, minimal natural disasters, easy access to drinking water, and a well-connected ley line.”

“Is it really that easy to find such a place?”

“With the search capabilities of the National Seal, it should be sufficient.”

Skeptical, I summoned the spirit of the National Seal to request a search.

Uuung—

[There are a total of 5 locations matching the criteria.]

“Really? Show me the locations and their views.”

[Understood.]

The National Seal found the spots so quickly that I truly realized how incredible this treasure was. Its ability to pinpoint needed locations in a vast and untamed southern continent was beyond human imagination. After touring each location, I shared the information with Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa, and they spoke in unison.

“This place looks good.”

The location they pointed out had no notable name, but based on their geopolitical knowledge, it appeared to be the most suitable place for human habitation. However, upon surveying the view from that spot, I remarked,

“But there are indigenous people living there?”

If it was a place fit for habitation, it was only natural that humanity would settle there. I could see that the natives had constructed their huts haphazardly. The estimated population was around 3,000, which was quite substantial for a barbarian tribe.

“Can’t we just drive them out? We could use them as slaves.”

“Hmm…”

As I pondered, Mangnyang spoke up.

“There’s no need to commit such an excessive act against strangers. Let’s negotiate and coexist with them.”

Zhuge Sa scoffed.

“Why show mercy to those whose civilization is no better than the barbarism of the Yin Dynasty? They’re no more than talkative beasts.”

“But they’re still human.”

Mangnyang replied firmly and said,

“If we use the National Seal and the Heavenly Secret Technique, we can easily negotiate with them.”

“Understood.”

I decided to support Mangnyang. Certainly, with our strength, annihilating or driving off mere barbarians would be nothing, but that isn’t the right way. I, along with Mangnyang, Jin So-cheong, and the Sword Demon, directly headed to the barbarian village.

Pa-at!

“Kah-hah!”

“Uoooh!!”

Upon arriving at the barbarian village with a thunderous boom, the natives were startled and attempted to attack us with their wooden spears and axes.

Kukung!

However, as I unleashed a surge of internal power and radiated my presence, they immediately cowered and dropped their weapons. The sight of hundreds of warriors being instantly subdued was quite a spectacle. The Sword Demon looked at me with astonishment and said,

“Baek Woong, besides the Dharma Guardian, you likely possess the best internal power in the history of the martial world…”

“Not that it matters much when fighting an expert of the Absolute Realm.”

“That’s not necessarily true. Being an expert of the Absolute Realm doesn’t guarantee victory over you…”

“There are variables.”

As the Sword Demon and I were engaging in casual conversation, a group of about ten barbarians emerged from a large hut. Among them was a uniquely dressed barbarian, brandishing a staff as he shouted.

[Who are you?]

Using the capability of the National Seal, I translated his language and summoned a powerful spirit using the Heavenly Secret Technique to further solidify my understanding. After a brief conversation with the summoned spirit, I spoke up.

“O priest of the Mabu-iag tribe, we are the Nung An from the northern continent. We wish to stay here in coexistence.”

“No! How do you know our language?”

The barbarian I faced was indeed the priest of the Mabu-iag tribe. In this theocratic society, the priest held a status akin to that of a king. The term “Nung An” referred to humans, while “Pa-man” meant “their words” in their language. Utilizing the memory of the spirit of the heroic barbarian I summoned, I continued,

“If you allow us to stay, we will eliminate the swamp monsters that have been a great nuisance to you.”

The priest’s eyes lit up with joy.

“Oh… Oh! Is it true? Will you really eliminate that monster?”

“Indeed.”

“Very well. I grant you permission to stay.”

From the memories of the summoned barbarian hero, I learned that he had died fighting that monster. This village was the largest on the southern continent, historically plagued by the swamp monster, suffering losses in population and barely surviving through human sacrifices. The swamp monster was likely a demon or an otherworldly race, so if I could eliminate it, staying here would surely be easier.

Soon, including the Sword Demon, the Shadowless Sect began constructing a new place to stay in a corner of the barbarian village. We had hired a dozen skilled carpenters from the Central Plains and brought in laborers, so it wouldn’t take long. Mangnyang, who was beside me, asked,

“What kind of swamp monster is it?”

“Um… I believe it’s a creature living near the nearby volcano.”

“If it’s an [Old Ruler], it might be beyond our capability…”

“From the memories of the barbarian hero, it didn’t seem like a creature of that level. I suspect it’s about the size of the Giant Toad we encountered in Great Thunder Valley.”

“Oh, then we should be able to catch it easily.”

“Now that you mention it, I’ll go catch it right away.”

Pa-at!

I headed toward the spot where the barbarian hero had fallen. The spirit of the barbarian hero was howling in my mind.

[Oooh! That monster has devoured countless villagers. I must take it down!]

“No.”

[What!?]

“I’m stronger than you, so just watch.”

Kugugugugu…

The site was an extinct volcano. As I walked toward the summit through the land shrouded in dark clouds, I stumbled upon a cave. Instead of going inside, I picked up a metal cage I had brought and threw it inside, channeling my internal power into it.

Kukwakwakwang!!

As the cave exploded, the ground trembled violently. It was evident that the insides were filled with the creature’s slime, so I didn’t want to confront it directly. Consequently, I chose to destroy the entrance from the outside. Out from the shattered remains of the cave crawled a giant creature resembling a toad, its tentacles flailing about.

Kurururuk…

“An otherworldly race, indeed.”

It seemed to be of the same species as the one I had faced in Great Thunder Valley, although it appeared smaller. The Giant Toad, flaring its throat’s membrane, let out a hot breath.

Wahhh…

The breath it expelled was infused with potent acid, melting all the rocks in its vicinity. However, I easily evaded the attack, getting close using Thunder Shadow Step before launching a full-powered Sword Thunder at it.

Shu-kang!

[Kraaah…!]

The toad let out a dying cry before collapsing. After swiftly dispatching the toad, I questioned,

“Hey, don’t you have any treasure or something?”

[……]

“Hey, are you not listening?”

The barbarian hero gasped in shock.

[How… how could this happen? I honed my martial skills, wielded the sacred techniques and treasures of my people, yet I merely put it to sleep and perished… How could you have defeated it so easily? This is absurd!]

“I told you, I’m stronger than you. I could have caught this monster easily ten years ago. Now, it’s even easier.”

[Oooooh…!]

He couldn’t seem to shake off his astonishment. I found his reaction oddly burdensome.

“Why make such a fuss over such a minor creature?”

Had he faced opponents far greater than this toad? I couldn’t quite grasp the barbarian hero’s bewilderment. After a moment, he finally calmed down and spoke.

[… Very well. To you, I will share my greatest secret. It is a secret I’ve kept hidden until death.]

“Is it treasure?”

[It’s not treasure, but rather a way to encounter the spirit of death.]

“Huh? The spirit of death?”

As I tilted my head at his intriguing words, the barbarian hero explained.

[We believe that the Rainbow Serpent created this world. The spirit of death is its foremost servant, and meeting the spirit grants one the opportunity to meet the Rainbow Serpent.]

“Are you saying I can meet the creator god through the spirit of death?”

[Yes.]

I shrugged off the idea as it didn’t seem relevant to me.

“What would I do after meeting the Rainbow Serpent?”

I was slightly taken aback by his following statement.

[You would receive the privilege of rebirth. You would inherit the wisdom and experience of your past life, becoming a more extraordinary being in your next life.]

“……!!”

Rebirth?!

Since I already possessed the ability for reincarnation, this wasn’t something I could easily overlook. I composed myself and said,

“That’s impossible! If that’s true, why didn’t you go try to earn your reincarnation privileges?”

[I had to carry out my mission to defeat that monster. Had I reincarnated, I could not have fulfilled that task, and thanks to my putting it to sleep, my tribe has enjoyed peace for hundreds of years. Although it has resumed its human-eating since returning…]

“……”

Despite him being a somewhat weak figure, it seemed he held a righteous heart.

[When one reincarnates, as proof of their rebirth, their mark disappears. The Rainbow Serpent erases the markings on the souls of those warriors who reincarnate, allowing them to inherit their memories and experiences.]

“Understood… So such things do exist.”

I had no choice but to believe everything the barbarian hero said because it aligned perfectly with what I had previously heard from Xiang Yu.

[You don’t bear the mark of forgetfulness. Thus, your probability of reincarnation is high.]

[All true names are inscribed with marks of forgetfulness on the wheel of reincarnation. However, there are very rare individuals whose markings either vanish or were absent from the start. Such beings reincarnate while retaining their memories.]

At that time, I didn’t understand the meaning of the mark of forgetfulness as Xiang Yu mentioned it. However, regardless of its meaning, it closely matched what this barbarian hero described. The “mark” he spoke of was likely the mark of forgetfulness that Xiang Yu had mentioned, and evidently, there existed a divine entity in the southern continent capable of erasing it.

“How fascinating.”

So, if I met the spirit of death, would I be able to achieve reincarnation?

Reflecting on this, I asked,

“Are there any specific conditions required for reincarnation?”

[I am uncertain. However, the priestess of the secret deity who imparted this secret to me said that the spirit of death chooses those worthy of reincarnation.]

“So, there’s a risk of failure.”

[If you do reincarnate, you could accomplish even greater feats. I will teach you the method to meet the spirit.]

“……”

By now, I pondered what would happen if I reincarnated. I was already experiencing a cycle of life, repeating the same time frame; could I truly break that cycle through reincarnation? Curiosity bubbled within me, and I nodded.

“Teach me.”

I then learned all the secrets from the barbarian hero and decided to inform Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa of this. Zhuge Sa immediately exclaimed,

“Don’t attempt to reincarnate in this life!”

“Why not?”

“If the barbarian’s words are true, then that ‘Rainbow Serpent’ is definitely an [Old Ruler]. The spirit of death must at least be a being comparable to the Great Immortal. Getting entangled with that sort of being would only heighten your risk of death.”

“… You might be right.”

“Don’t underestimate the divine beings just because the civilizations of the southern continent seem shabby. Next time you might suddenly drop dead while you’re at it.”

Zhuge Sa advised,

“I’m going to perform the Offering Ceremony. After gaining the method to acquire the Heavenly Sword from Jang Sam-bong, I think we can challenge Dark Heaven Village.”

“Understood.”

Pa-at!

I made my way to Mangnyang’s village. Together with the help of Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin, we set up an altar and offered my twin broadswords and the leaf of sacrifice among the treasures I possessed to summon Jang Sam-bong. After all, the twin broadswords weren’t anything I needed right now.

Uuuuu—

Light emanated from the altar, and soon Jang Sam-bong manifested through Cheon Woo-jin’s body. Jang Sam-bong appeared as an ethereal projection and looked at me, saying,

[Ah, a human noted by the Heavenly Mysterious Woman…?]

“What? What do you…”

As I began speaking, a sudden realization struck me. I was in a situation where I was trying to unleash the Divine Sword Technique this life and had caught the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s attention! Apparently, the rumor had spread to the extent that even Jang Sam-bong was aware of my situation.

A cold sweat dripped down my back. I thought it was merely a minor nuisance due to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, but if the rumors had spread this much, my every action would surely draw attention, wouldn’t it? As I instinctively shrank back, Jang Sam-bong remarked,

“If you wish for something and have summoned me, then speak your business.”

“Uh… Jang Sam-bong of Yuan Yuanzi…”

I hesitated before stating my request.

“I would like to know how to draw the Heavenly Sword you possessed in your previous life.”

[……]

Suddenly, Jang Sam-bong fell silent. The lengthy silence made me perplexed, but eventually, he spoke again.

[That… you cannot draw it.]

“What? Why not?”

The following response left me stunned.

[Because before ascending, I sealed the Heavenly Sword with all the enlightenment of the Absolute Realm. No one will be able to wield the sword, even if they excavate all of Wudang Mountain. And even if you return all the offerings I’ve received from you, I won’t unseal the sword.]

“Why, why not?!”

[……]

I was in shock.

Could it be that the one who sealed the Heavenly Sword was the true immortal, Jang Sam-bong? And he had no intention of unsealing it?

“Is it really such an incredibly powerful divine sword?”

Could it possess such great power that it would warp the Law of Cause and Effect?

However, when I asked this, Jang Sam-bong hesitated to respond.

[That sword is known as萬害無益 (万害无益, literally meaning ‘ten thousand harms without profit’). It is the sword of a false historical figure, a false god-king… Its duality is beyond comprehension when one gains awareness. If you have the ability, I would instead recommend destroying the Heavenly Sword.]

“A false king’s sword?”

[I cannot share more as it is a divine secret. Please take back your offerings.]

Ssss…

Jang Sam-bong’s form began to vanish, and the twin broadswords and sacrifice I had offered reappeared. Once he completely returned to the celestial realm, I couldn’t hide my incredulity.

“……”

What on earth is the Heavenly Sword?