전생검신 85권 10화

The reason the Grand Dragon Pavilion Master could instantly recognize the Sword Demon was simple. Although his outfit had changed, his physique and Qi were exactly as I remembered the Sword Demon. Plus, after 20 years, he hadn’t aged a bit; in fact, he seemed even more toned, suggesting his internal power had reached an astonishing level.

The one who was taken aback by the Sword Demon’s words was Huang He Daoist, who stood next to me. His eyes went wide, and he exclaimed, “B… Baek Woong? Are you telling me he’s the legendary Lord of Soeul Castle…?”

Thud!

Thump.

Huang He Daoist was instantly knocked unconscious by a swift blow from the Sword Demon’s hand. His expression was a mix of surprise and confusion, as though he had no idea what had just happened. Following this, the Sword Demon quickly dispatched all the remaining experts of the Mosan sect who still had consciousness.

Boom!

When the last martial artist collapsed, the Sword Demon dusted off his hands and remarked, “I think it’s better to seal their mouths so things don’t get too noisy.”

[Wow, his skills have really improved while I was gone.]

“You granted him such a fortuitous encounter, and for 20 years, it was a continuous battle. If he hadn’t gotten stronger, he wouldn’t have survived that long.”

With a sigh, the Sword Demon continued, “Hmph… Let’s head inside. We need to talk.”

As I followed the Sword Demon into the Grand Dragon Pavilion, the preserved architecture filled me with nostalgia, and I exclaimed, [This building hasn’t been filled with those damn mystic devices.]

“The sorcerers wanted to deck this place out with mystic devices, and I refused since I wasn’t fond of it.”

The Sword Demon opened the door to a room that looked like a reception area and sat down. I took a seat across from him, and for some reason, as I sat down, a loud thud echoed from my rear. A bit self-conscious about the odd sound, I glanced at my behind only to find the Sword Demon laughing heartily.

“Haha, you look quite awkward. Is it because that body isn’t really yours?”

[True that. Honestly, I never expected to end up with a mechanical body.]

“What happened?”

[……]

I hesitated because I had way too much to explain. Lost in memories, I took a moment and began to recount my story.

[Right now, I can’t use the obsidian, so let me summarize what’s happened so far…]

I took a significant amount of time to relay the events that had transpired, but unlike before at Zhuge Sa, I didn’t feel like this was the right time for a long-winded tale, so I stuck to the essentials for a little over a meal’s worth of time. After calmly absorbing my words, the Sword Demon raised an eyebrow and said, “Is that so? Your true body is still in that Ancient Takrok era, and you’ve come to this world for a while, borrowing the help of the Mirror of Clarity…”

[I’m not sure of the entire situation. But Zhuge Sa said I was the ‘one who is served.’]

“….Hmm. With that statement, I no longer doubt if you’re a fake Baek Woong. No one could invent such an extraordinary story out of thin air.”

The Sword Demon, who had been murmuring in astonishment, suddenly paused to think and said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but one thing is for sure.”

[What’s that?]

“It’s peculiar that you can’t use martial arts right now.”

[……?]

What on earth does that even mean?

I tilted my head at the Sword Demon’s unexpected remark.

[What do you mean? I’m currently in a mechanical body, so of course, I can’t utilize internal power or Dantian; it’s normal that I can’t use martial arts. I’m currently flowing with magical power absorbed from the World Tree, not Qi.]

“Hmph.”

[This magical power may share some characteristics with abstract Qi, but it’s fundamentally different. So, I can’t cast martial arts using this power.]

“I know that much.”

[So, why… then…?]

The Sword Demon opened his mouth.

“The Master of Zen era was also mechanical.”

[……!!]

Oh!!

As I processed that statement, I mustered a face of realization, and the Sword Demon chuckled softly.

“You’ve figured it out.”

[… So that’s it. I didn’t realize this since I just got here and was in a state of confusion.]

The Sword Demon mentioned the Master of Zen from the era of the Great Bear Empire for a simple reason.

‘The Master of Zen from 500 years later was an android… but he could use Intent!!’

Back in my 28th cycle when I arrived in the Great Bear Empire, my original self had already perished, but the resurrected android Master of Zen had shown me how to use Intent while casting martial arts.

That’s right. If the android Master of Zen could wield Intent, then I, too, should be able to do so, even with a mechanical body.

‘But why can’t I?’

I hadn’t just been sitting idle. During my efforts to absorb magical power through Sets, I’d occasionally tried to wield Qi and Intent. But despite my attempts, Intent wouldn’t respond, and I was stuck in a bit of a dilemma.

As I pondered in silence, the Sword Demon asked, “Baek Woong. What do you think Intent is?”

[It’s about asserting one’s will onto the world.]

“Correct… That’s spot on. I think similarly; since both of us are nearing the pinnacle of martial arts, we can’t go beyond that definition.”

Then the Sword Demon continued, “However… if we were to ponder the reason you can’t use Intent right now… I’d suspect it’s because of the nature of Intent itself—it’s linked to manifestation.”

[……]

I mulled over the Sword Demon’s words for a brief moment. Deciphering the realm of martial arts, I caught onto the hidden meaning behind his statements.

[You mean that even if I manage to project Intent, it won’t reach where it needs to go right now?]

“You seem to catch on quickly. Impressive. After hundreds of years of training in martial arts, your comprehension has grown significantly.”

The Sword Demon, who spoke with admiration, pressed on, “As you said, the peculiar sensation that Intent strikes into ‘something’ is something that all peerless masters feel in the Realm of Intent… Your case seems to indicate that you haven’t yet passed that stage, hence the inability to use Intent.”

I tilted my head in confusion.

[That doesn’t make sense. I’ve performed Intent thousands of times throughout my past lives; there has never been a time when its function was blocked. Unless the opponents’ powers reached such a level as to pull me into a space where I couldn’t use Intent.]

“Is that so? Then reflect on any moment when you couldn’t use Intent. If you compare that space to your current condition, something might spring to light.”

[Hmmm.]

The most memorable instance when I couldn’t use Intent was only one.

‘When Mephistopheles trapped me in the Neural Sphere!’

That moment was when I felt the most incapacitated. During that time, all my techniques, sorcery, even martial arts and Intent, were completely sealed.

‘Are you implying that now resembles that incident? But why?’

Back then, my consciousness became data made of 0s and 1s within the Neural Sphere. Obviously, data can’t use martial arts or techniques, so I couldn’t use Intent.

But currently, it’s not the Neural Sphere; this is reality, and I still have my mechanical body! Why can’t I use Intent as I did back then? What commonality could possibly exist here?

In that moment, a presence flickered through my mind.

And before I knew it, I murmured, [… Heavenly Pillar.]

“Are you referring to the Intent Heavenly Pillar?”

[……]

I wasn’t sure why the Intent Heavenly Pillar suddenly popped into my head. However, I also began to recall something the Master of Zen had said that filled my mind.

[Baek Woong, keep in mind… to find out what lies beyond Intent.]

Beyond Intent. The Intent Heavenly Pillar.

The Master of Zen certainly had been able to use Intent but couldn’t wield the Intent Heavenly Pillar. I realized the Master wanted me to consider the Intent Heavenly Pillar. I hadn’t pondered this matter, as it felt too complex and vast, but now I was unexpectedly confronted with it again.

How is it that this could occur? I never thought I would face martial arts in such an unforeseen scenario!

‘Even if it’s a supreme martial artist of the Absolute Realm, they cannot see what lies above the pillar supported by their Intent Heavenly Pillar. No matter how hard they try, a blinding light surrounds their vision, returning it to its original state.’

Because I’d heard Asura tried to glimpse above the pillar thousands of times over decades, yet failed, I hadn’t been able to muster the courage for a proper attempt since. But now, with these constraints rising, I suddenly felt an inspiration sweep through my mind.

Could it be…

The sky (heaven) at the end of Intent’s manifestation…

Does this mean that the sky is nonexistent for me right now, which prevents me from using Intent as well as the Intent Heavenly Pillar!

‘If that’s true, then the sky usually supported by the Intent Heavenly Pillar could either exist in a data state of 0s and 1s or is something that cannot manifest in my current condition.’

When I fathomed that point, I became aware of what I had been ignorant of.

‘…That’s right. I… have no idea what my current state even is!!’

First, I need to discover WHAT I am right now!

I can’t just rely on Zhuge Sa’s assumptions; I need to figure out how I came to this world through the Mirror of Clarity and how I’ll return to my true self!

Otherwise, I’ll end up powerless and wasting my time!

I understood my enlightenment and spoke to the Sword Demon.

[Now I think I know what I need to do.]

“What is it?”

I clenched my fists with firm resolve and declared, [I must hurry to the Underworld and find the Mirror of Clarity. I must recover the means I used to come to this world to forge ahead.]

For now, I don’t need to be bothered by all those trivial matters. Finding the Mirror of Clarity is my utmost priority!

“That’s good. I can certainly feel a definite change in your mindset compared to earlier. Just moments ago, you seemed confused about what to do next.”

The Sword Demon nodded in satisfaction and stood up.

“Follow me. There’s something I want to show you.”

[Understood.]

With a steady gait, I trailed the Sword Demon as we ascended the steps of the Grand Dragon Pavilion. While climbing the sturdy yet elegant wooden stairs, the Sword Demon’s voice echoed in the air.

“Is the Zhuge Clan inside you still asleep?”

[Yes.]

“I suppose that’s for the best. I wouldn’t want to involve him in this situation.”

[……?]

“We’ve arrived.”

Once we reached the upper levels of the pavilion, I could see a white orb enveloped in light in the Grand Dragon Pavilion’s hall, roughly the size of a person. Within that orb, a hazy silhouette obscured any clear details, but I could distinctly see that it was in the form of a woman, and an uneasy feeling settled in my gut.

[…… No way!!]

“Unfortunately, yes…”

[Not here again…!]

I momentarily froze, staring blankly at the glowing orb before turning to the Sword Demon with disbelief.

[You mean the one in that orb is Seo Mun-hye?!]

The Sword Demon nodded gravely.

“…That’s correct.”

Seo Mun-hye’s situation changes yet again!

I couldn’t hide my panic and exclaimed, [Previously, her connection to the Giant Race caused a Divine Fever, and is that the case once more? What’s going on?]

The Sword Demon fell silent, slowly moving toward the white orb and gently caressing its surface.

“Up until two years ago, she hadn’t shown any such signs. In fact, with the help of her companions, she managed to stabilize her divine power and became one of the strongest among her peers. Besides Jin So-cheong and the Master of the White Lotus Sect, she was practically unrivaled, having defeated over ten powerful demon beasts in Liaodong.”

[This sudden change… why now?]

“Indeed. At some point, she began sleeping extensively, and ultimately, she confined herself within this orb overnight.”

[……!!]

“Originally, I had no interest in the conflicts between the White Lotus Sect and the Talented Prodigy Sect. I was just staying neutral, waiting for you to return, like the Zhuge Clan. However, I had no choice but to reach out to the Talented Prodigy Sect in order to resolve this anomaly, secretly relocating my base from Liaodong to Nanjing.”

Only then did I grasp the situation, murmuring, [Zhuge Sa must have thought you and Seo Mun-hye were still in Liaodong. But you’d been working as the Grand Dragon Pavilion Master in Nanjing! You clearly didn’t want Zhuge Sa to know your recent whereabouts.]

“Who would want the Supreme Beings of the Forbidden Law, Zhuge Sa, to know their movements?”

[But we’re comrades.]

“True comrades, yes. However, as you’ve seen from your memories, the Zhuge Clan treats every comrade—except you—as expendable. What good would it do to expose my daughter in this state to such a person?”

[……]

Though valid, agreeing would make Zhuge Sa seem even worse, so I had no choice but to keep quiet. As he withdrew his hand from the white orb, he continued speaking.

“One reason I didn’t go to the White Lotus Sect-occupied Luoyang is twofold. The first being the presence of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens and secondly, I can’t predict when the Master of the White Lotus Sect might take my daughter hostage for an offering.”

I was startled by this unexpected statement.

[The Heavenly Mysterious Woman? Are you telling me she’s here in Nanjing?]

“Indeed. The Heavenly Mysterious Woman has been temporarily stabilizing my daughter’s peculiar condition.”

[This can’t be… how is a being from the Celestial Realm even here?]

“Didn’t Zhuge Sa fill you in on what’s transpired?”

I nodded.

[In my rush, I didn’t have time to hear the detailed situations of my companions. You mean the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s here in Nanjing?]

“Exactly. That’s one of the major reasons the Talented Prodigy Sect has held their ground.”

[But the Four Heavenly Kings I met in Luoyang were all formidable Great Immortals from the Celestial Realm. Is there a chance they’d be in opposition to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman?]

After all, among the Four Heavenly Kings of Luoyang was Zhongli Quan, who was usually subservient to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. It seemed far-fetched for members of rival factions to be affiliated with one another. Who would believe a clash between the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and the Eight Immortals could happen?

The Sword Demon gave a dry laugh.

“Haha… it’s ridiculous, but Gum Cheon-jae has become the contract holder for the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. That’s how it became possible for him to dominate this region of Nanjing.”