Chapter 256
Chapter 256
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 256
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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We heard the stories of Toyo's two great sword heroes, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna and Tsukahara Bokuden. They had come to this Aokigahara Sea of Trees because they felt the need to battle powerful foes while pursuing the pinnacle of martial prowess.
Nobutsuna then spoke to Dokgo Sung.
"Aokigahara Sea of Trees consists of a total of four regions."
I translated his words for Dokgo Sung.
"What are you saying?"
"It's written in the journal left by the one you call Cheongwol. He happened to encounter the being that governs the Sea of Trees and learned about its divisions at that time."
Nobutsuna walked out of the building. He extended a finger toward the dense forest and said,
"The area where we stand is the entrance, the Sea of Life. About ten li further in from here begins the second region, the Sea of Death. Beyond the Sea of Death lies the third region, the Sea of Entry, and past that, the Sea of Destruction... the final zone of the Sea of Trees."
Dokgo Sung, who had been listening intently, said,
"Life, Death, Entry, Nirvana?"
"That's right. They applied that Buddhist term for transcending life and death to the Sea of Trees."
"Grand indeed."
Dokgo Sung continued curtly.
"But in the end, it's just a place infested with yokai and evil spirits."
"True, but... the beings here aren't ordinary yokai. Every one is at the level of a great yokai."
"So you're scared?"
"Of course."
Tsukahara Bokuden, standing beside him, sighed and said,
"Nobutsuna and I trained our joint attack techniques for a full three years, honing our martial arts, but we couldn't even dream of crossing from the Sea of Life into the Sea of Death. Just twenty-odd paces outside this building, and hell unfolds."
"......!!"
"We nearly died dozens of times."
I couldn't help but be shocked. Though they hailed from Toyo, the vassal land of martial arts, and might seem underestimated for it, the skills of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna and Tsukahara Bokuden before my eyes were undoubtedly at the transcendent peak expert level. Comparable to the sect leaders of any major righteous faction. If such world-shaking masters trained joint attacks, they could easily slaughter ordinary yokai.
Yet they couldn't pass even the entrance Sea of Life?
Dokgo Sung immediately asked upon hearing this.
"You said the administrator told Cheongwol about it. Why did he tell him?"
"The details aren't clearly recorded."
"Then what is this administrator?"
"According to the journal, he's the chief of the onmyoji."
"Onmyoji?"
"It's what we in Toyo call sorcerers."
"Hmm... Any way to meet this administrator?"
At Dokgo Sung's question, Nobutsuna gave a wry smile.
"We searched for a method ourselves, but the journal says encountering him was nearly a miracle. Probably impossible through ordinary means."
"I see."
Dokgo Sung continued dryly.
"I'd like to see that journal. Is it in Middle Kingdom script?"
"Yes. We studied Middle Kingdom language to interpret it."
Dokgo Sung and I took the journal of Cheongwol that the great sword heroes offered. We began reading the book written in Middle Kingdom script calmly. Dokgo Sung read for nearly half a shichen before suddenly standing and saying,
"Cheongwol entered decades ago. Not sure if he's even alive."
"He at least made it past the Sea of Death. We didn't even catch a glimpse of him in the Sea of Life."
"I see... I need some time to think. Wait here."
Dokgo Sung left those words and strode into the nearby brush. Watching his back, Nobutsuna said,
"Baek Woong, was it? You seem like a true prodigy."
"I've long heard of your two masters' reputations."
After exchanging pleasantries, I asked,
"I heard you spoke harshly of Miyamoto Musashi. Is he truly just a talented wastrel?"
"...Munenori must have a loose tongue."
"It's something I must know. Please tell me."
Nobutsuna glanced at Tsukahara Bokuden. Bokuden nodded, and Nobutsuna spoke.
"Do you know of the Ganryu Island duel?"
"I've heard of it."
"One of the most famous duels in Toyo. Miyamoto Musashi earned recognition as a peerless swordsman equal to us by defeating Sasaki Kojiro on Ganryu Island."
Nobutsuna continued with slightly melancholic eyes.
"Bokuden and I were overjoyed. To a swordsman, a worthy rival is like a teacher, isn't he? So when Musashi's fame soared to the heavens, we sought him out to test his skill."
It made sense. Martial fanatics who came to Aokigahara Sea of Trees to fight yokai for lack of human rivals in Toyo. Such an attitude was only natural.
"How was he?"
"He possessed skills beyond peak expert level, for certain. But compared to his fame, far too lacking. Either Bokuden or I could defeat him in two hundred exchanges or fewer."
"......"
Nobutsuna's words rang true. Having seen their skills firsthand, I could tell the gap was that wide. Great sword heroes like them never exaggerated or boasted in such matters. Just to be sure, I asked,
"I know Miyamoto Musashi is young. He's still developing as a warrior. Perhaps you placed too much expectation on such a Musashi?"
"Heh... yes, of course. We might have expected too much."
As Nobutsuna tried to brush it off with a bitter smile, Tsukahara Bokuden interjected from the side.
"Baek Woong, there's reason for our assessment. Listen well."
"Stop, friend. What good comes of saying that much?"
"We owe the Thunder God Style a debt just for living in this building. We have a duty to share information honestly."
"Tch... if you put it that way."
Nobutsuna yielded, and Bokuden smiled faintly on his gaunt face as he said,
"That man wasn't developing—he had already peaked. He mastered an incomplete martial art and set his own limits, halting there."
"Miyamoto Musashi?"
"Yes. He picked up some peerless manual somewhere and mastered it with his talent, but hit the wall of his innate limits. Add arrogance from fame, and we had no expectations for him."
"Hmm..."
Nobutsuna added,
"But that was the 'fake.' I once saw the real Musashi, bearer of the legends."
"What?"
"He used the Itto-ryu too, but on another level. A genius beyond compare. It happened so fast, though, I can't be sure..."
Bokuden chided him.
"Fool, why speak of uncertainties?"
"But otherwise, the contradictions can't be explained."
In that moment, a flash crossed my mind.
'The Book of Five Rings?'
In a past life, when the Sword Demon killed Miyamoto Musashi, the item from his corpse was the Book of Five Rings. I recalled mentions of it.
[What is this? Looks like a strategy text, but it's a type of martial arts manual. You didn't read it closely. It subtly hints at breathing methods and swordsmanship here and there.]
[The author is truly, truly an incredible master!]
[Not Middle Kingdom martial arts, but this is remarkable. However, neither you nor I could learn it.]
[The martial art in this Book of Five Rings uses two swords—nito. Not standard nito, but reverse nito.]
[An ultimate supreme art that won't even allow entry without extreme talent in swordsmanship. Fewer than two or three in the world could master it.]
[An unfriendly martial text that only challenges once-in-history prodigies. Likely a flaw from the author being an unparalleled genius.]
"......"
My mind went blank. Suddenly, facts clicked together like beads on a string. Clenching my fist, I muttered,
"So that's it..."
"Hm? Figured something out?"
"No."
I brushed it off, but inside I was thrilled. From information gathered across lives, I'd uncovered another hidden truth.
The world's known Miyamoto Musashi is a fake!
Precisely, the Musashi wandering with the Book of Five Rings, serving as a minor fencing instructor, is the fake. The real Musashi exists separately—unknown if he uses that name—but the [author of the Book of Five Rings] is distinct.
Yes.
The unparalleled martial genius who created reverse nito swordsmanship!
That being is surely Toyo's true strongest master!
Unknown to the world, such a peerless expert undoubtedly exists.
'Probably the fake Musashi acquired the Book somewhere. Using his considerable talent, he mastered reverse nito. That alone broke him into peak expert realm, earning fame in Toyo. But lacking talent, he couldn't go further...'
My task was simple.
Find the author of the Book of Five Rings by any means!
He must be an incredible peerless expert; gaining his aid or arts would be a huge boon.
As I pondered, Dokgo Sung returned.
Looking at us, he said abruptly,
"I have a question."
"Please speak."
Nobutsuna and Bokuden had been using honorifics with Dokgo Sung since earlier. Out of respect for his superior skill and seniority. Dokgo Sung gazed sharply beyond the Sea of Trees and said,
"The journal mentions the Full Moon Heavenly Killing Method in the central Sea of Destruction of Aokigahara. Why do you think it's there?"
"Hmm..."
The two seemed troubled. Then Nobutsuna spoke.
"From what I heard from the White Lotus Leader, the Full Moon Heavenly Killing Method is the ultimate quick-blade art learnable only by the blind. It's called the [most dangerous martial art in the world]. I believe someone sealed it in the Sea of Trees because its mere existence could be a calamity."
"......"
Dokgo Sung finally said,
"No helping it. I need to gauge how dangerous this Sea of Life is to sort my thoughts."
"Be doubly cautious. This place is hell itself."
"I'll keep it in mind."
Soon, we left the building together to explore Aokigahara Sea of Trees. The farther from the building, the thicker the yin energy and demonic qi grew. Past fifty paces, a demonic qi unfelt in the human world began spreading.
Sizzle...
We saw a bizarre plant, perhaps over five paces wide, growing a small stem visibly fast to the naked eye. The plant writhed like a living animal, spewing tentacles from its petals. A normal human might collapse mentally just seeing it.
"What's that?"
"We call it the Avici Flower. It devours any animal, including humans, and its body is flexible yet tough."
"Hmm."
Shhkkk!
Moments later, saw-like sword energy flew from Dokgo Sung's hand, shredding the Avici Flower into hundreds of pieces. It happened in an instant. The flower crumbled with a hideous screech.
Kiiiiieeeek!!
Dokgo Sung frowned at the sight.
"Definitely monstrous. Is everything here like that?"
"Yes. All uselessly sturdy and strong. Later, some won't take damage without sword energy."
"Insane. A mere yokai that strong?"
"This is mild. The guardian of the Sea of Life is truly terrifying."
Shhwap!
Even chatting, the four of us swung our swords leisurely, as if strolling, crossing the deadly Sea of Trees. Dokgo Sung seemed surprised verbally, but his attack power was so overwhelming that he one-shot everything.
After another fifty paces or so?
A massive roar suddenly echoed.
Groooo...
Something wailed from the earth. Sensing its ominous presence and size, we fell back momentarily. Then, the Sea of Trees ground upheaved like an earthquake as 'something' emerged.
Rumble...
Its body seemed tens, hundreds of paces long. The largest monster we'd felled so far, its size enough to reshape the terrain, inspiring terror. White mucus oozed from its pale body, resembling a giant earthworm.
Grooooaaah—!!
An unbelievably powerful demonic beast!
Even the moon beasts from Deep Thunder Jade Cavern's depths wouldn't match this one's size and strength.
I swallowed hard, staring, when Nobutsuna said tensely beside me,
"That's the one! That's the guardian of the Sea of Life. Defeat it to enter the Sea of Death."
"Is it strong?"
"Baek Woong, how do we even take that down?"
Nobutsuna countered, leaving me speechless.
How to slay a demonic beast the size of a small mountain?
I'd faced giant beasts before, but usually Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin descended to handle them. Now, estranged from the Heavenly Realm and Demon Night, I'd expelled Yeo Dongbin.
Thus, the four of us had to fell this colossal worm with our own power.
Dokgo Sung said,
"Don't flinch. Great yokai or demonic beast, doesn't matter—kill it."
"Easier said than done..."
I quickly swung my sword, firing sword energy. It sliced the worm's massive body visibly, but to fell that enormity, it was merely a scratch.
Seeing it, Dokgo Sung said,
"Not good. Can't we bypass it to the Sea of Death?"
"As you see, we must pass through the cave behind it—impossible."
"No choice then."
Dokgo Sung's eyes gleamed azure.
"Eradicate it!"
That instant.
Ching!
As Dokgo Sung shouted, thunder roared around his body, his sword surpassing lightning to shine pure white light. In a split-second imperceptible save by Divine Sight, Dokgo Sung's sword cleaved the worm's head-side body.
Dokgo Sung's white sword thunder had vast range. Seeming just two or three swings, next instant the mountain-like body split and floated up. Impossible to gauge how many paces one strike severed.
The worm staggered, then spewed massive acidic fluid.
Kabooom!!
With an explosion, vast acidic mucus scattered through the air. We all dodged or used protective energy to shield ourselves.
Dokgo Sung landed in the Sea of Trees, looking down at the corpse, and said,
"Not that strong, but needs pinpoint destructive power to kill. I see why you struggled."
"In the world... to fell that..."
Shock colored Nobutsuna and Bokuden's faces.
Superhuman swordsmen though they were, they'd never dreamed of slaying a hundreds-pace monster. I glanced at the worm's remains, then prodded with Demon Night.
Whoooosh...
"Hmm..."
I sensed the qi scattered in the worm's body absorb into Demon Night. Not vibrating like the Portrait Ghost's heart, but a tangible stockpiling of power for its user.
'This won't be easy.'
And I knew intuitively.
What dwells deep in Aokigahara Sea of Trees isn't some great yokai.
It's the demonic itself.
Venturing too deep might summon an unimaginable horror.