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The 17th life has begun.

The familiar scent of the barn wafted into my nose. At the same time, I realized I’d lost all the connections I’d built in my previous life and reverted to a child’s body. But, I still retained the gains in internal power I had achieved. As I carefully observed my state, I stood up calmly.

“I need to think this through.”

Was my 16th life fulfilling? Not really. There were too many regrets. Sure, destroying the imperial palace was great, but in the end, the “Xuyou” went wild and nearly got sealed in a battle with the celestial realm. And now, my brain was filled with the spells and knowledge implanted by Ji-seon Mang-nyang.

Ji-seon Mang-nyang had barged into Kunlun Mountain and spent about two years in hellish training to learn spells. After surpassing his limits, he became a direct disciple of the Great Immortal, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens, enhancing his abilities through the treasures of the celestial realm. Achieving the level to use treasures so quickly was the result of his own luck, effort, and skill.

I pondered this and wondered, ‘Why did the Itaka inside Xuyou go berserk?’

The prophet of Astana had once told me,

[Is there a possibility that Itaka could take over my mind or body?]

[Not at all… because the Itaka residing there is not the original, but an avatar… It cannot break the contract…]

[An avatar?]

[Most of the Old Rulers never casually reveal their true form… Well… it’s a contract, so some of Itaka’s power is definitely lurking in there.]

I had already asked the prophet about the body-snatching possibility of Itaka. And since the prophet, who supposedly possessed the highest wisdom, firmly denied it, I had been working hard on growing Xuyou with no hesitation. But the result of pumping up Xuyou led to Itaka’s body-snatching and rampage. Did the prophet deceive me?

Anger surged momentarily, but I calmed down, thinking, ‘No. There might be another possibility.’

After careful consideration, I decided to confront the prophet about this problem. I also began to seriously think about what I needed to do moving forward.

Until now, my primary goal had been the “destruction of the imperial palace.” Honestly, just defeating it was such a monumental task that there was no room for any other thoughts. But after taking down the palace last life, the celestial realm loomed as a major obstacle. Moreover, the memories of Ji-seon Mang-nyang hinted at an enormous darkness lurking within the celestial realm.

Then, moving forward, I had to regard the celestial realm as an enemy to combat against. I couldn’t dismiss the potential that the celestial realm might be the source of all evil.

“I need to meet Mang-nyang.”

I concluded. After all, the key to all these problems resided with Mang-nyang. He was the bridge connecting the present, past, and future. Whatever wisdom or conclusion I arrived at, his thought might hold the most truth.

I hesitated, about to go after Heavenly Secret when I paused. ‘Should I really use the command of separation to immediately drive out Yeodong-bin?’

The terminal of Yeodong-bin attached to me wasn’t in a constant possession state. Rather, Yeodong-bin only descended in response to demonic energy. So right now, he wasn’t closely observing my condition.

Thinking back to the time Yeodong-bin faced me made me feel like it would be insufficient to just drive him away immediately. However, I decided not to rush into any assumptions. In my last life, things got tangled up, leading to a rift with Yeodong-bin and ultimately with the celestial realm, but Yeodong-bin himself was a powerful force. I might regret not having him around when facing demonic beasts.

‘I’ll leave Yeodong-bin alone until I break Xuyou free.’

I could afford to wait a bit longer before experiencing Yeodong-bin’s Heavenly Escape Sword Technique. With that conclusion, I started moving again.

First, I obtained Heavenly Secret, and the process of acquiring the Golden Eagle naturally progressed. I had soon reached the point of fighting the Giant Toad, also known as the “Beast of the Moon.”

As I faced the beast, Yeodong-bin, the Sword Saint, began to descend upon me.

[I have come to vanquish the demon!!]

There was a bold determination in his voice. I felt a massive spirit envelop my body. While sensing his presence, I suddenly thought, ‘Wait. Can I learn the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique?’

The Heavenly Escape Sword Technique was not a human sword technique but a celestial one. Hence, basic techniques didn’t exist, and the essence replaced them. Starting with the first essence, “Faith,” it followed onto the second, “Understanding,” which signifies responding to intention. Thus, I had currently reached a state where I had grasped the second essence of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.

I didn’t submit to Yeodong-bin but instead asked his spirit, “[Yeodong-bin, I have a question.]”

[What is it, Avatar?]

[How many essences are there in the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique? And how far can I master it?]

Before my eyes, the Giant Toad was preparing for battle. It seemed ready to pounce at any moment, causing a twinge of anxiety, but I felt confident I could handle it with my current skills. Yeodong-bin then answered,

[Starting with Faith, it leads to Understanding, then ceasing to exist to realize Void, becoming Heaven’s Escape.]

[So, there are a total of five stages?]

[Indeed. If you do not place your trust in me, you will not be able to enter the first essence.]

In other words, it meant starting from the stage of accepting divine spirit and allowing the formidable Yeodong-bin to awaken my spirit to help me learn the essence of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique. I felt I had a rough idea of how to acquire the technique.

Suddenly, another thought struck me.

[Yeodong-bin, would you be able to evaluate my fighting skills?]

To that, I was met with Yeodong-bin’s confused response.

[What about?]

[I like to think I possess my own swordsmanship. I would like to hear the evaluation from someone known as the Sword Saint.]

[Go ahead and do as you wish.]

I nodded and charged at the Giant Toad. The owner of Dae-ryeok, the Giant Toad was a monstrous creature of immense size, known for surviving even when faced with both Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang simultaneously unleashing their ultimate techniques. So, I had always relied on Yeodong-bin when facing him, hesitating to fight alone.

But today was different. Having built up my martial skills in my past life, I wanted to face him head-on. I also longed for the evaluation from a celestial-level being known as the Sword Saint.

With a swift motion, I lunged toward the Toad, attempting to smash its skull with my Sword Strength while wielding the Soul Removal Technique, recalling how easily I had defeated it with the help of Miho in the past.

[Kyaah!!]

However, unlike before, the Giant Toad emitted a defiant roar and suddenly burst forth with spikes from its skin, resembling a spear. The protective instinct kicked in, triggering an automatic body response. I hurriedly dodged and pulled back.

‘What’s going on? There was no reaction like this before…’

I suddenly realized that in my last life, I had used the Transmission Technique while Miho assisted me to sneak in. When facing an attack that couldn’t be countered, that spiky ability wouldn’t activate. This meant that unless I could deliver a significant close-range attack, it would be hard to finish it off in one hit.

Grinding my teeth, I charged at the Giant Toad again.

Boom!

[Kraaak!!]

Crack!

How long had I been fighting using the Soul Control Technique, invoking the Thunder God lineage’s secret technique? I soon realized I had defeated it. I felt breathless as if I had fought so hard my lungs were about to burst. Taking a deep breath, I thought, ‘Did I use about 400 breaths?’

It was a brief period, but given that I was unleashing thunder like a thunderclap, my stamina and internal power consumption had been quite significant. As I sat cross-legged to restore my energy, Yeodong-bin spoke up.

[Avatar, you possess quite formidable martial arts skills for your age.]

[Were there shortcomings?]

[There were unnecessary movements, and the consumption of the Soul Control technique was high. You also didn’t use your internal power efficiently. It would be best if you gained more experience.]

Consumption?

I tilted my head, as Yeodong-bin’s advice touched on aspects I hadn’t considered.

[What do you mean by consumption?]

[You know how to pull up the Soul Control technique and are familiar with using Sword Strength. However, if you delve deeper into the Soul Control technique, it can help lower the consumption of mental and energy.]

[Ah…!!]

Suddenly, the words of the Sword Demon flashed in my mind. Though the Sword Demon had never directly mentioned it, he alluded to being able to use the Soul Control technique more conveniently. Perhaps the reason why Lee Kwang could unleash the Soul Control technique effortlessly was due to a difference in proficiency?

A sense of understanding washed over me. Curious, I asked further.

[If someone possesses infinite internal power, could they use the Soul Control technique indefinitely?]

[Not quite. But you could substitute the consumption of internal power to lower the mental consumption of the Soul Control technique.]

[Hmm.]

[In any case, infinite internal power is impossible in the realm of humans, so forget about it.]

I sensed Yeodong-bin withdrawing from the terminal. With the demon defeated, there was no reason for him to linger. However, the advice he gave me was worth more than gold, so I contemplated the meaning of his words.

‘That’s why the Dharma Guardian has such an absolute advantage in battles against peak experts.’

The Soul Control technique consumed tremendous mental effort and couldn’t be utilized repeatedly during battles. It was a secret technique that required precise timing. However, if the Dharma Guardian possessed infinite internal power, they could freely dissipate their internal power, similar to when I had used my internal power forcefully to use Sword Strength. This way, they could minimize their own consumption while continuously unleashing secret techniques, making the Dharma Guardian a fearsome being.

After gathering my Wooden Armor, Nine Stars Main Capital, and Twin Broadswords, I rescued the prisoners, including General Hwang Yeon. Before releasing them, I spoke with him.

“General, I have something to ask.”

“Speak up.”

“Do you happen to know General Jin Cheon-hwi?”

At my question, General Hwang seemed taken aback. Then he replied,

“The Boy Hero. What is your relation with him?”

“I hear his older brother is a disciple of my sect.”

“Huh… then you are a disciple of Lee Kwang?”

“You know Jin So-cheong?”

General Hwang vigorously nodded.

“Of course. I had heard his news through a letter from Lee Kwang.”

“Do you also know that Lee Kwang is actually inheriting the Thunder God lineage?”

“Naturally.”

It seemed General Hwang was aware of many aspects concerning Lee Kwang and the Thunder God lineage even from the early stages. Until now, I hadn’t paid much attention to him, but in this life, I planned to delve deeper into the presence of Jin Cheon-hwi, who was the father of Jin So-cheong. It felt like that existence might hold significant keys for my future course of action.

I rapidly fired off another question.

“The top expert of Shaolin Temple, the Master of Zen, also knew General Jin Cheon-hwi. Do you know why?”

“The Master of Zen? It’s only natural since Jin Cheon-hwi’s sect is Shaolin Temple.”

“Is that so? Shaolin Temple?”

General Hwang sat down on a nearby stone, as if his legs hurt.

“He trained martial arts in Shaolin during childhood and later threw himself into the military. He was so uniquely talented in martial arts that he was even mentioned as the leader of the Shaolin sect, so it’s only natural the Master of Zen is familiar with him.”

“Hmm…”

“You seem to have a lot of questions about Jin Cheon-hwi.”

“I’ve heard he was the greatest general in the Central Plains, but there’s not much known about him.”

“Didn’t Lee Kwang tell you?”

“He seemed to avoid discussing it.”

Chuckling bitterly, General Hwang said, “Well… that might be the case. The inexperienced Lee Kwang was helped into adapting to the imperial palace by Jin Cheon-hwi.”

“Is he still alive?”

“He is dead.”

“Do you happen to know why?”

At his next words, I was struck with horror.

“He was a legitimate heir superior to the current emperor!”

“……!!”

What does that mean? Stammering, I asked.

“Did you say he was… royal? Jin Cheon-hwi was part of the imperial family?”

“Indeed. He was raised in Shaolin Temple during childhood and then rose in the military, but he was originally of royal blood—an elder brother to the current emperor.”

“…… ”

“As soon as the emperor ascended the throne, he seized on the chance to frame him and executed him to eliminate his family.”

I began to sense a pattern forming in my thoughts.

‘Could it be that Jin So-cheong is…’

The reason why both General Hwang and Lee Kwang cherished Jin So-cheong so much, despite Lee Kwang seemingly being a cold-hearted man dedicated only to restoring the Thunder God lineage. Everything connected right back to that point.

General Hwang said, “The reason I’m revealing such a significant secret to you is that you give me the feeling of someone who will accomplish great things.”

“Great things?”

“We’ve been holding onto this secret while facing the limits of reality, unable to do anything. But somehow, I feel as if you might be able to achieve it. You possess a greatness about you.”

I felt the weight of General Hwang’s assessment. I had never thought of myself as a remarkable person. After this, I kept General Hwang and the prisoners inside my Wooden Armor and moved directly to Mount Huang to collect the Black and White Lotus and the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, also acquiring Xuyou and the Gold Bar.

As I prepared to use the Golden Lamp to head to Pirate Island, a thought crossed my mind. ‘Oh right. The Sword Demon had a request.’

If I were to reincarnate, the Sword Demon had asked me to change the order of appearances.

Until now, I had been purposefully avoiding the Shadowless Gate since I found it burdensome to meet the Sword Demon often. But now that I realized he was a reliable entity, it seemed better to see him soon.

Thus, I decided to go gather Obsidian in Dongyoung’s mine before heading to the Shadowless Gate. It didn’t take long to pass through the gatekeeper and encounter the Sword Demon, Seo Mun-dae-ryong, with no significant changes from the last time I saw him. However, he no longer held memories of our master-disciple relationship, and at this moment, he was a complete stranger. That stung my heart, but I pushed through to speak.

“Yes. Just follow me.”

“I cannot trust you.”

“If you hesitate, you’ll miss the chance to rescue your daughter.”

“Anyone would suspect a sudden appearance of a boy claiming knowledge about my daughter’s whereabouts.”

“That’s true.”

I nodded and took out the large piece of Obsidian from my pocket. Then I said, “I possess a mystical spell to transfer memories. You can verify this by reading my memories.”

“Heh, I must say, this is becoming quite the mountain. How can I trust this isn’t a trap?”

“However, Sword Demon, you would wish to seize any shred of information on Seo Mun-hye, wouldn’t you? You’re certainly investigating the Demon King Tydaht out of suspicion.”

“……”

“I dare say, please place your hand on this Obsidian.”

The Sword Demon, Seo Mun-dae-ryong, hesitated for a moment. Then, deciding at last, he placed his hand slowly on the Obsidian.

Bang!!

In the next moment, all the memories I had carefully stored surged through the Obsidian to the Sword Demon. He bore a dazed expression as he accepted the massive flow of memories.

Eventually, the Sword Demon came to his senses and said, “… So that’s what it was. Truly, it’s unbelievable… but I have no choice but to believe it.”

I again offered respect as a disciple and bowed.

“Pleased to meet you, Sword Demon.”

Having gained the memories from my 16 lives, he seemed to collect his thoughts before saying, “First, let’s go take care of those pirates. We should be able to fit our Shadowless Sect members in that Wooden Armor, right?”

“Of course.”

Consumed with his emotions, the Sword Demon ground his teeth. It was all about his beloved daughter’s wellbeing.

“I’ll tear those bastards apart!”

Indeed, in my 16th life, the Sword Demon had requested me to restore his memories in advance so that he could seek revenge against the pirates himself.

 

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