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And so, my nineteenth life began.

Sure, I melted away due to a curse, but reincarnating was surprisingly painless. I guess once your nervous system has been liquefied, you don’t feel much. But the despair and frustration I felt while slowly dying? Yeah, that was something I’d rather not describe.

With the heavenly training fresh in my mind and the secrets of the Heavenly Spirit Pill right in front of me, who could’ve guessed I’d suddenly get hit with a curse from a Phoenix and die?!

“Seriously, who could’ve seen that coming?”

I had already coordinated everything with Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong. I was convinced I could just wipe out the Phoenix with divine power. Imagining that I would die due to a curse in such a situation? Nope, that’s something you just don’t expect.

Honestly, I should’ve discussed it with Mangnyang when Yun Sa warned me with those divinations. But considering what kind of variables could arise from borrowing the power of an Old Ruler, I rushed to Seven Kills Village, which was clearly a mistake. I had no choice but to blame myself.

Ah, this is painful.

I miss Miho…

Feeling a wave of melancholy, I wiped my eyes. My heart ached.

Taking a moment to shake off the shock, I decided to sort through what I gained from my eighteenth life.

“First, I figured out the hypocrisy of the Namgung Clan, and I found the location of the Suspicious Fishhook, a treasure belonging to the Three Sovereigns. I also obtained the basics of the Three Treasure Technique from Jin So-cheong, learned the Heavenly Spirit spells from Mangnyang, and got the basics of the Soul Exchange Technique from Zhuge Sa. Plus, I uncovered the whereabouts of Beom Kyun and Jeong Yun-bo, who are both descendants of the Thunder God Lineage.

That’s quite a lot, right?

But thinking about all I lost leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

“The entrance rights to Kunlun Mountain in the celestial realm… and the secrets of the Heavenly Spirit Pill… and my life…”

None of those are unimportant. It feels like I left everything essential undone and went out with a whimper. After pondering for a bit, I sighed.

“Ugh. I guess this time I need to change my approach and move differently…”

Fetching the Heavenly Secret Pill remains the same, but after confirming the Suspicious Fishhook exists in the Namgung Clan, my route has to change. I took a moment to think before I started to move.

After securing the Heavenly Secret Pill, I rushed fiercely to Shandong and got the Golden Lamp. Immediately after, I recalled there were now three groups I needed to rescue:

Women trapped by the pirate group, Blood Blade Group.

General Hwang Yeon and my other captured allies in Thunder Pearl.

Women suffering abuse in the Namgung Clan’s secret lair.

Suddenly overwhelmed, I felt my energy drain away.

“Why are there so many scumbags in this world?”

Kidnappings, murders, and violence are rampant everywhere. Back when I was a kid, I’d never have pictured the world like this. Of course, I spent my childhood living like a slave in the village chief’s house and was a bit of a downer, but at least the world seemed peaceful and ordinary from the outside.

Is this because of the otherworldly races?

Or is it just that humans are naturally these kinds of creatures?

But deeper thoughts only make me more depressed and don’t help change the situation. Instead of sighing, I took a deep breath through my nose.

“Hmph!”

Sighing makes me feel all the energy drain away. But a deep breath through my nose keeps a bit of it. I don’t have any wisdom to speak of, but that’s just the trick I’ve picked up from all the crap I’ve gone through.

“I need to save them all, but I should head to Thunder Pearl first.”

It’s not like one side is more deserving than the other. It’s just the wooden armor in Thunder Pearl is essential; I need to get that first to keep things running smoothly.

With a Clap!

I used the Golden Lamp and headed straight to Thunder Pearl, running smack into a Giant Toad. I thought about using Yeodong-bin’s Spirit Summoning, but quickly changed my mind and decided to fight it myself.

“Let’s practice the Three Steps Technique.”

[Grrr!!]

And just like that, I began an intense battle with the Giant Toad. The size was overwhelming, and killing it took time, but actually dealing with it wasn’t the issue. I just needed to begin training in the Three Steps Technique I had learned from Jin So-cheong.

[The Seven Stars Shadow changes according to the movement of the Big Dipper. And when the energy of the Seven Stars peaks, its position reverses.]

I thought about the elements of the Seven Stars Shadow.

Heaven’s Pivot, Heaven’s Virtue, Heaven’s Instrument, Heaven’s Right, Jade Balance, Opening Sun, and Shaking Light. The seven stars whirled in my mind. I knew from the basics of the Seven Stars Shadow that I needed to maneuver the positions of the stars fluidly.

But the fact that it can change with the movement of the Big Dipper and that their positions can reverse…

No matter how much I learned, I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.

It felt like they were hinting at some unusual transformation, but what could it possibly mean?

Clap!

[Focus on yourself as the axis of the Big Dipper and visualize the movements of the other six stars in your head. That’s how you connect the stars and complete the Three Steps of Heaven and Earth.]

I gritted my teeth and unleashed the Seven Stars Shadow. Dodging the Giant Toad’s onslaught, I tried to implement Jin So-cheong’s teachings, but it wasn’t working out as planned. The principles were too abstract for practical use.

“I don’t get it!”

Ultimately, after over two hundred seconds of just flailing with the Seven Stars Shadow, I had to call for Yeodong-bin. I could’ve dodged longer, but a prolonged fight with the Giant Toad wasn’t beneficial.

[I have come to vanquish the…

“Yeodong-bin!”

As he summoned his spirit, I unleashed a scream of urgency. Just as I was about to move and take down the Giant Toad, Yeodong-bin paused momentarily. Then he quickly dodged the Giant Toad’s hand attack using Lee Hyeong-hwan’s technique.

[What is it, Seonja? I will rid this demon beast.]

“No, that’s not the problem!”

[What is the issue?]

“The Seven Stars Shadow changes with the movement of the Big Dipper, but do you understand what it means to see yourself as the axis and envision the movements of the other six stars?”

[…]

Yeodong-bin looked perplexed. Then, unexpectedly, he extended his sword and unleashed a massive surge of Qi directly at the Giant Toad.

Bang!

[Grrr!!]

In an instant, it seemed the toad’s claws — and even a chunk of its body — were ripped away. As the Giant Toad spewed toxic blood while writhing, Yeodong-bin commented.

[Interesting martial art you’re studying, Seonja. From the memories of your martial arts, it looks like you’ve been training hard.]

With an impressed murmur, Yeodong-bin continued.

[Is this truly the Three Steps capable of suppressing the Heaven, Earth, and Man? It’s a solid martial art grounded in the basics. I can see the meticulous nature of its founder.]

“Huh…”

I was surprised inside.

Without even mentioning that the advanced form of the Seven Stars Shadow was actually the Three Treasure Technique, Yeodong-bin instantly recognized its peak form. The fact that even the genius Jin So-cheong took a month of rigorous training just to barely grasp the essence of it is unbelievable. As I marveled, Yeodong-bin added.

[Seonja, it’s not that surprising. It’s just the difference between those who have reached the peak and those who haven’t.]

“What do you mean?”

Yeodong-bin effortlessly dodged thousands of poisonous droplets falling from the sky and replied.

[You are at the level of the Sword of Heaven, so when you observe the sword skills of the lesser practitioners, you can instantly discern their training duration, level, principles, strengths, and weaknesses. Right?]

“Yes, that’s true…”

[It’s the same for me. I have reached an equal level to the founder of the Seven Great Techniques, so I can immediately understand both the completed form and its strengths and weaknesses.]

“…!!”

Yeodong-bin stated it casually, but I felt chills inside.

“Is this… the power of a divine warrior?”

The ability to instantly grasp martial arts below his level! This was closer to some kind of superpower rather than just the skills of a master. At this point, I realized how far out of my league Yeodong-bin was — not even being able to imitate him in the slightest.

Previously, I thought of him merely as a convenient presence, but the higher my martial arts level climbed, the more awe I felt towards Yeodong-bin.

A single sword, slashing and slaughtering thousands of demon beasts, standing at the summit of martial arts, becoming a divine warrior — that’s the Fire Dragon Incarnate, respected and revered!

Once Yeodong-bin finished his explanations, he summoned dozens of Invincible Swords into the air. These swords, forged with strong intent, shone like a beam of light, and then they blasted towards the toad’s skin, exploding it completely.

Boom!

What followed was a complete massacre. As if it were a lie, Yeodong-bin had slaughtered the enormous toad and said.

[I want to help with your martial arts training, but the realm of that skill is something only you can comprehend on your own. It’d be best to hone it day by day.]

Just then, I felt my spirit beginning to falter. Quickly, I used the Heavenly Spirit technique to light up my fingers, and a strange rattling sensation accompanied a bewildered voice.

[Wait?]

“I… I’m sorry.”

[Did you use a technique to stop me from leaving?]

“…”

Yeah.

The Heavenly Spirit technique had the power to control spirits, and I used it to prevent Yeodong-bin from departing. He paused in silence, then said.

[That must be the technique of the Great Immortal Level. How did you acquire such a technique?]

Well, it originated from the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, so it makes sense it’s at the Great Immortal Level. That’s why I could freeze Yeodong-bin.

“I can’t say…”

[You must have some objective for stopping me. Speak your purpose.]

I hesitated under his stern request before finally saying.

“I lack talent for martial arts, and I can’t guarantee understanding this Three Treasure Technique even after decades… Please, is there any way you could help me? If you do, I will repay the debt.”

[…]

Seeing my desperate plea, Yeodong-bin appeared lost in thought.

After a moment, he said.

[As a divine warrior, I’m restricted from interfering with the human world due to the law of cause and effect… However, since you are connected by the thread of fate with me, I believe there shouldn’t be any prohibition.]

“Thank you!”

A wave of happiness surged within me.

Why hadn’t I thought of this sooner?

Here was Yeodong-bin, a divine warrior potentially on par with the Master of the White Lotus Sect, just nearby! If the comprehension of my martial arts fell short again, I could always rely on Yeodong-bin’s help. While I felt exhilarated at that thought, Yeodong-bin remarked.

[But for now, I have no way of assisting you.]

“Huh? What do you mean—”

[You have already learned the five key skills of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, which starts with Faith, continues with Understanding, and culminates in Emptiness. You should ideally reach the realm of the Immortal Sword!]

“…”

[Yet somehow, the essence of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique has been solely used to heal the contradictions within yourself, preventing you from attaining the proper Immortal Sword level. At this point, I cannot teach you any more of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.]

A sudden realization hit me.

Now that I think about it, during my brush with those monsters at the Aokigahara Life Sea, I should have sought Yeodong-bin’s help then as well. Back then, I borrowed the essence of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique to resolve the chaos in my sword styles. Though I did acquire all the key techniques from Yeodong-bin, that clearly wasn’t the end of it.

“A properly trained martial artist would instantly attain the Immortal Level swordsmanship, but I wasted my potential by resolving the chaos!”

Regrets bubbled up inside me. But it wasn’t like I could deem that decision wrong, which left me with a restless feeling.

Originally, the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique is an unsophisticated practice without any basic forms, so even asking for additional training is out of the question.

As I anguished over this, Yeodong-bin softly said.

[However… there is one way.]

“What is it?”

[The artifact I used during my human days, the Fire Dragon Sword, contains the enlightenment of my master, the Fire Dragon Incarnate. I too gained great martial strength through that enlightenment, so it would be of immense help to you as well.]

“…!!”

The precious Fire Dragon Sword of the Sword Master, Yeodong-bin! Just hearing its name leaves me feeling exhilarated. Haven’t I witnessed the grand sight of Yeodong-bin summoning the Fire Dragon from the celestial realm multiple times? If I can master the secrets of the Fire Dragon Sword, maybe I could do the same!

At that moment, I mentally set my target.

“Alright, this life, I will seek out the Fire Dragon Sword first!”

Once again, a new goal to overcome the frustrations and disappointments from my eighteenth life emerged.

 

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