Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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I first revealed the existence of the Golden Winged Cauldron to Dogo Seong. It was a secret too dangerous to share lightly, but he was the one who would teach me the Thunder God Style's secret manual, ensuring we'd share a close bond moving forward. It would be trouble if I hid it and he later accused me of toying with him.
Dogo Seong didn't seem particularly surprised upon hearing about the Golden Winged Cauldron from me.
"I see."
"Aren't you shocked?"
"As you said, if you truly lack great talent, it's clear you received help from some wondrous item. I already suspected you had something unusual."
"But that's..."
Dogo Seong replied calmly.
"Not quite like your Golden Winged Cauldron, but the White Lotus Cult had its own peculiar treasures. It's not that astonishing."
"......!!"
I was stunned.
'The White Lotus Cult had something like that too?'
Did they possess demonic tools like the Golden Winged Cauldron or the wooden armor? I hurriedly questioned Dogo Seong.
"What kind of treasure was it?"
"The sacred relic held by the White Lotus Cult Leader, and a few treasures passed down through the priests' lineage. I don't know who has them now, but they definitely existed."
"A sacred relic... What abilities did it have?"
"Who knows. Something about controlling the weather..."
Dogo Seong continued in a disinterested tone.
"Such things are for sorcerers anyway. I know no more than that."
"Yes..."
To Dogo Seong, peculiar wondrous items held no value whatsoever. It was the mindset of a hardcore martial artist who viewed anything beyond weapons as trash to a warrior. Though disappointed, I realized I'd gained one clue.
'The White Lotus Cult has valuable sorcery tools too.'
Or perhaps demonic tools forged with the power of other races.
After organizing my thoughts, I said to Dogo Seong,
"Then let's head to Dongyeong. Please grab my shoulder."
Flash!
The place I arrived at was the obsidian mine in Dongyeong that I'd visited before with Miho. It wasn't heavily trafficked, and being not far from the city made it suitable. I told Dogo Seong,
"It seems I need to mine some obsidian. Could you wait a moment?"
"Why obsidian?"
"I need it badly."
Dogo Seong stood atop a hill, gazing at the miners in Dongyeong some dozens of paces away. He frowned at their near-naked state.
"This truly is barbarian land. Finish up quickly and come out."
"Yes."
I used the Vanishing Shadow Step to slip into the mine undetected, avoiding attention. Suppressing the miners with martial arts would work but risked rumors, so stealth was better. I reached the spot I'd noted before and successfully extracted a large chunk of obsidian.
After mining the obsidian, I used the cauldron again to return to Dogo Seong. He said indifferently,
"Not that obsidian—don't you have some quality steel?"
"For a weapon?"
"Yes."
I shook my head firmly.
"I'm sorry, but Dongyeong's iron is very poor quality. Their weapons are subpar too."
"I see."
Dogo Seong looked regretful but accepted it.
I'd once hoped for the famously sharp Dongyeong blades, but the metals were low-grade, and the craftsmanship crude. Forged by artisans relying on gut feel, they couldn't bring out unique traits. Perhaps as a result, their weapons had weak durability—like taffy sticks.
"If you really need a weapon, I can buy a fine sword from the Central Plains."
"No need. Just testing."
"Then let's go near Mount Fusayama now."
No sooner had I spoken than I took Dogo Seong to a village near Edo City. Mount Fusayama lay further beyond Edo, on Honshu Island. Head east on Honshu, and you'd reach it—the nearby sea of trees was Aokigahara.
Dogo Seong glanced at Edo City and said,
"That's the barbarians' city?"
"Yes. They say it's Dongyeong's de facto capital."
"Then their king must live there."
"Something like that."
Then Dogo Seong made an unexpected suggestion.
"Let's go check it out."
"Pardon?"
"I want to see what Dongyeong barbarians' swordsmanship is like. Might be fun if I know someone."
"W-Wait a moment..."
Whoosh
Dogo Seong suddenly dashed toward Edo City. Though "dashed" understated it—his lightness skill was incredibly swift, wielding Skywalking at will like a bird in flight. I had no choice but to chase after him with Vanishing Shadow Step.
'What is he thinking?!'
This was completely unplanned. I'd only meant to show him Aokigahara together, never imagining he'd charge into Edo. Predictably, what Dogo Seong might do next was anyone's guess.
I saw him lightly vault the walls and land in the city streets. I followed, descending to the ground. Dogo Seong said,
"So, who's the top expert here?"
No point trying to dissuade him.
'His eyes are sparkling...'
Dogo Seong seemed intensely curious about barbarian swordsmanship, itching for a spar. Telling him not to would only stoke his anger.
Resigned, I explained calmly,
"In Dongyeong, there are sword heroes a cut above common ronin. But heads of famed sword schools are far stronger. And above them are three even greater."
"Hoh. Interesting place. How strong are those three?"
"Probably around my level, maybe a bit stronger."
"I see."
Muttering briefly, Dogo Seong looked at me and said,
"You know some of them. Guide me there."
"......"
After a moment's thought, I said,
"Promise you won't kill or cripple them."
"I promise."
"Then let's start at the Yagyu house."
The three great Dongyeong sword heroes I knew were:
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna
Miyamoto Musashi
Tsukahara Bokuden
Of them, I'd only met Kamiizumi Nobutsuna in person before. I knew Miyamoto Musashi was a fraud, unworthy of meeting. Tsukahara Bokuden matched Nobutsuna as a master but wandered, location unknown. Thus, I had to knock on the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu door to track Nobutsuna.
Thinking our attire too conspicuous, I bought simple clothes at a fabric shop and a wide-brimmed hat. Covering our faces like wandering monks, I knocked at the Yagyu gate.
A Yagyu disciple snapped irritably,
"Who is it?"
"A passing warrior. Here to challenge the Yagyu head."
"......"
The disciple smirked, then swung his sword suddenly—underestimating the vagrant warrior, aiming to thrash me. But at mid-second-rate by Central Plains standards, I lightly flicked my hand, hurling him away.
Crash!
"Oof...!!"
The noise drew disciples from everywhere. They drew real swords, bristling with hostility, but I faced them unfazed—like kittens puffing up their tails.
'These are supposed to be warriors?'
A few slashes would turn it into a bloodbath. None could block or dodge my First Form. As I pondered what to do with their weakness,
"The honored guests have arrived. Welcome."
A sword hero emerged from the disciples. Yagyu Munenori, current head of the Yagyu house. He approached, clasped hands in greeting, then paled as he sensed our auras.
"Th-This...?"
He bellowed at those around,
"Everyone inside! You idiots!!"
"Yes, sir..."
At Yagyu Munenori's shout, the disciples fled into the building like arrows. As a peak expert, he'd instantly gauged our levels and realized he couldn't handle us.
Trembling, Yagyu Munenori said in a quavering voice,
"Ex-Experts from beyond the heavens... Who might the honored ones be?"
I glanced at Dogo Seong. He ignored Yagyu Munenori entirely, watching a butterfly flutter nearby. To him, Munenori's strength was mere weed.
No choice, I told him,
"We've come from the continent to test Dongyeong's greatest sword heroes."
"The continent...!!"
"We've heard the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu has great sword hero Kamiizumi Nobutsuna as advisor. As head of Yagyu, you should know his whereabouts."
"......"
Yagyu Munenori gritted his teeth and said,
"Grandmaster is away."
"Then where is he?"
"That's..."
I didn't want delays on this. Since Dogo Seong hadn't promised not to kill or maim, I wanted to finish quickly and scout Aokigahara. So I began threatening Yagyu Munenori.
"The one behind me is twice my strength. Even alone, I could raze the Yagyu in an hour. Dodge the question, and it won't end well."
"Ugh..."
Yagyu Munenori replied dejectedly.
"Grandmaster is currently training at the edge of Aokigahara Sea of Trees."
"......?!"
I was dumbfounded.
I'd come all this way, and he was in the sea of trees!
I probed further.
"What do you mean?"
"A few years ago, Grandmaster felt the limits of his swordsmanship and entered Aokigahara for harsh training against powerful yokai. That's all I know."
"Hmm... Do you know where Tsukahara Bokuden or Miyamoto Musashi are?"
"Tsukahara Bokuden entered the sea of trees with Grandmaster. Miyamoto Musashi is teaching swordsmanship in Kumamoto Domain, I believe."
"I see. You track the great sword heroes well."
Praising Yagyu Munenori, he looked baffled.
"What do you mean? Great sword heroes?"
"......?"
"Miyamoto Musashi isn't worthy of that title. His skills are decent, but he can't compare to Grandmaster. If seeking Dongyeong's great sword heroes, exclude Musashi."
"He's not at the transcendent realm?"
"Grandmaster said he's a second-rate swordsman who luckily got an excellent manual and grew through talent, but can't go further."
"......"
Miyamoto Musashi's fame seemed inflated. Yagyu Munenori's disdain went beyond school rivalry—treating him as a notorious fraud meant issues with Musashi himself.
I extracted a bit more info from Yagyu Munenori and left. Using lightness skill to exit Edo City, I briefed Dogo Seong. He grumbled,
"That clown just now is Dongyeong's famed swordsman?"
"Yes. Probably the best of the era."
"Pathetic."
Some might call Dogo Seong arrogant, but he had the qualifications. To him, those below transcendent were insects.
"Anyway, we must go to Aokigahara."
"Indeed."
Two hours later, we reached the edge of Aokigahara Sea of Trees. Upon arrival, Dogo Seong sensed a strong presence and dashed off.
Tap-tap.
Soon, Dogo Seong stopped before a building. Following, I saw him facing off against two middle-aged swordsmen in their fifties or sixties, tense as they drew swords.
Clang!
Dogo Seong sent a casual sword initial, and the two countered in an instant. He toyed leisurely, dominating space, while they focused on parrying with intent.
After about thirty exchanges?
Dogo Seong halted and muttered,
"Not bad for barbarians. I like it."
I stepped beside him and clasped hands to the swordsmen.
"Kamiizumi Nobutsuna. Tsukahara Bokuden. Pleased to meet you."
Indeed.
The swordsmen who'd just sparred with Dogo Seong were Dongyeong's top sword saints. In this land barren of transcendent masters, they'd reached that realm through self-cultivation. I'd met and spoken with Kamiizumi Nobutsuna multiple times in past lives.
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna asked,
"Who are you? Such incredible experts..."
"We're Thunder God Style masters from the continent. This is Dogo Seong; I'm Baek Woong."
I introduced as Thunder God Style, not Shadowless Clan—easier that way.
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna started.
"Dogo Seong?!"
He hastily bowed to Dogo Seong, in clumsy Central Plains tongue.
"Long time no see. Greetings, Dogo Seong."
Dogo Seong looked puzzled at the Dongyeong sword hero greeting him in Central Plains speech—with the unique intonation of divine strength practitioners. He clearly knew Dogo Seong was from the White Lotus Cult.
"Who are you?"
"I am. Kamiizumi. Nobutsuna. Hundred years ago. Visited Thunder God Style. You. Guided me then."
"Ah..."
Dogo Seong peered at his face, then brightened.
"That Dongyeong warrior from back then! Face rang a bell."
"......"
Watching, I was flabbergasted, mouth agape.
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna had visited the White Lotus Cult in the Central Plains' divine strength lands a century ago in his youth. He'd shared his impressions of the Four Great Styles with me. Never dreamed Dogo Seong was his guide!
'Just how old is he?!'
Dogo Seong appeared middle-aged, but his true age was immense. As I gawked, Tsukahara Bokuden beside him said,
"We were cooking. Join us?"
"Sure."
We ate the sword heroes' simple meal of rice and vegetables. Kamiizumi Nobutsuna asked,
"What brings you to this demonic realm?"
"We came because a guardian of our sect entered here. He's inside the sea of trees seeking the Full Moon Thousand Kills Technique."
"......"
The two great sword heroes paused mid-bite, exchanging glances.
"That man."
"Have you seen him?"
"Look here."
Tsukahara Bokuden rose and approached a large wall. He peeled off covering paper, revealing characters etched with inner power. He explained,
"This building is like an outpost for entering the sea of trees. Protected by sorcery barriers against great yokai and mental defenses. A prior challenger built it and left his ambition inscribed."
The wall bore concise Central Plains script:
[ I will find the Full Moon Thousand Kills Technique and kill the Cult Leader! ]
"......"
"We didn't grasp the meaning, but knew someone entered seeking the Full Moon Thousand Kills Technique. We've lived here since, fighting yokai in warrior's training."
No need for more words.
Cheongwol, Thunder God Style guardian and one of the Thunderclap Three Venerables!
He'd built this structure and entered Aokigahara Sea of Trees seeking the absolute art, Full Moon Thousand Kills Technique.