1008——————==

Soul of the Evil God

The Demon King Zhuge Sara?

I was caught off guard by the unexpected statement as Cheon Woo-jin said,

” … Enough of that, just follow me for now.”

” Got it.”

” No need for help.”

Cheon Woo-jin brushed off my hand and stood up, sporting a rather uncomfortable expression. He then pulled out a talisman and began chanting something.

Whoo whoo whoo

” Haap.”

A moment later, a trigram formation appeared on the ground in front of me. It seemed to be a teleportation formation, and seeing that, I realized just how weakened Cheon Woo-jin had become.

‘ Cheon Woo-jin once used this teleportation technique over dozens of miles without preparation. But now, he needs help from a spell and has to chant a long incantation…’

The fact that his illusion technique was sealed meant that a significant portion of Cheon Woo-jin’s abilities had also been sealed. It was likely that even unrelated abilities were affected.

Pa-at

As Cheon Woo-jin and I stepped onto the formation, we were engulfed in light and transported to some unknown location. I had expected to arrive at the royal court where Sagong Lin was, but I found myself looking around in confusion at an unexpected place.

” Where is this? We weren’t headed to the royal court?”

” Look in the mirror. They’re in the middle of a fight right now. It wouldn’t make a difference to go.”

” Hmm.”

I examined the mirror that Cheon Woo-jin had mentioned. Within it, I could see Tactical Forces Agents engaged in a fierce clash with Assassins from the Illuminati. It was such a chaotic scene that if I jumped in, it would only result in a big brawl. I spoke while staring into the mirror.

” Shouldn’t we help? Why are we in a different place…”

” Just stay out of it. With Sagong Lin on our side, we’re guaranteed to win against anyone. If an assassin from the Illuminati could defeat Sagong Lin, humanity would have already been doomed.”

” ……?”

” Anyway, since you’ve returned, you need to focus on the bigger issues rather than getting caught up in little things. Let’s avoid wasting time.”

With that, Cheon Woo-jin marched forward. As I walked through the large building, which was strikingly different from the era I had lived in, I noticed plenty of electronic devices around. There were escalators that moved by themselves and shelves floating in midair. Gray marble pillars were scattered everywhere, and I climbed flight after flight of stairs.

” This is a place you’ll be frequenting from now on. You should take this opportunity to see it.”

” What place is this?”

” The Heavenly Altar of Mount Hua among the Five Great Mountains.”

” What?!”

This is the Heavenly Altar of Hua Shan?!

I couldn’t believe that this place had transformed so drastically from the last time I had visited any of the five Heavenly Altars. The Heavenly Altar of Hua Shan had once stood atop a high mountain, ensconced in a grassy area. As I struggled to adapt to this shocking reality, Cheon Woo-jin continued,

” Did you know? The Huashan Sect that existed in Hua Shan has now become the most flourishing martial arts sect in the world. They exchanged their stronghold in Hua Shan for national support equivalent to that of the White Lotus Sect. Now, rather than just a martial arts sect, the Huashan Sect has turned into a transnational corporation, with the Master of Huashan Sect serving as the CEO of a 10-trillion won enterprise and training high-level bodyguards.”

” ……”

The martial artist has become a businessman?

His words made no sense to me, and I tilted my head in confusion as Cheon Woo-jin chuckled dryly.

” I’m getting old and starting to ramble on. Ugh… Anyway, you need to be here to receive the assistance of the Celestial Realm.”

Beep!

[ Inner Palace Research Head Cheon Woo-jin. Special security privileges confirmed, opening the Heavenly Altar.]

Cheon Woo-jin pulled out a square device from his robe and placed it against the wall, then the door swung open with a beeping sound. As we stepped inside, the enormous interior contained the preservation of the Heavenly Altar of Hua Shan from 500 years ago, unchanged from how I had last seen it.

I spoke to Cheon Woo-jin,

” Why bring me here? Even if it’s hard to access now without boiling, I used to visit the Heavenly Altar regularly.”

” … The situation has changed over time. Remember when the Celestial Realm said they had distanced themselves in order to avoid the destruction of the Law of Cause and Effect? And that the immortals and spirit beasts of the Celestial Realm are cut off?”

” Hmm. I remember.”

” In fact, it was around that time that all support from the Celestial Realm was severed. All summoning spells from the Celestial Realm have now been blocked.”

Cheon Woo-jin reached for a liquid electronic cigarette, took a puff, and paused before speaking again.

” But we can’t completely give up on the help of the Celestial Realm. I may have spoken confidently just now, but there are still the Eight Parts of the Divine and Demon King out there. To put it frankly, each of them is too overwhelming to handle with just human strength, so support from the Celestial Realm and the assistance of the immortals is essential. This is why Mangnyang’s older brother devised a plan.”

” A plan?”

” Yes. His older brother modified the Heavenly Altar with the help of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. Through the Heavenly Altar, the distance to the Celestial Realm has shortened just like in the past, allowing us to summon immortals here. We can also perform offering ceremonies and blessings. This is the only Heavenly Altar among the Five Great Mountains.”

” Oh! That’s a relief!”

So if I could just retrieve the wooden armor containing my treasures, I could offer to the Celestial Realm and receive support again? Feeling relieved, I noticed Cheon Woo-jin’s expression tightening.

” Don’t take it for granted. This is the achievement of Mangnyang’s older brother that has become a legend in the Dao Realm.”

” Huh?”

” His older brother worked tirelessly for 58 years just to create this minimal link. After that, he spent hundreds of years working in the mortal realm before ascending to the divine realm to continue his efforts. Crazy bastard.”

” ……”

” Ugh, damn it… He probably did all this because he believed you would return…”

Seemingly dissatisfied, Cheon Woo-jin continued smoking his cigarette.

A strange silence lingered until Cheon Woo-jin spoke up.

” Anyway, since we’re here, you should meet Mangnyang.”

” Can I see him?”

” Offering items have already been presented before, so we can have a direct connection with the divine realm at least once.”

Whoo whoo whoo –

Cheon Woo-jin pressed a button on a nearby device, and light burst forth from the Heavenly Altar, echoing with a reverberation. After a moment, he began to chant spell language while forming hand signs, and soon enough, an apparition made of light rose above the altar.

Pa-at!

The apparition formed into a human figure, and as soon as I saw it, I exclaimed,

” Mangnyang!!”

[ … Baek Woong, it’s you. You’ve returned.]

Mangnyang looked just as he had in life, with familiar features. The only difference was that he wore a long white robe and held Baek Woong’s long saber. He resembled the legendary Zhuge Mu-hu I had seen before, and was speaking in the unique ethereal language of the immortals.

” Now, witness my memory.”

I instinctively tried to hand Mangnyang the obsidian. But he merely stared blankly before pushing away the obsidian with Baek Woong’s saber.

‘ Huh?’

That was a clear rejection, and I was taken aback when Mangnyang said,

[ Have you forgotten? This is a formal occasion. It is also an offering ceremony. The memories I gain will be shared with the entirety of the Celestial Realm’s leadership. Even if the distance between the mortal realm and Celestial Realm has increased, transmitting your memories to this otherworld is a risky affair.]

” Ah!”

[ We can discuss the circumstances later. For now, I will fulfill your request as the Great Immortal and the Lord of the Xuanxu Palace.]

” ……”

Mangnyang adopted an extremely calm demeanor. It was quite different from what I had witnessed before, and although I felt a bit confused, I understood that he had upgraded to the Great Immortal. It was known that Great Immortals have significantly curbed the human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, and desire.

Thinking quickly, I spoke to Mangnyang,

” Mangnyang. During my unconsciousness, I lost everything. I lost the Heavenly Secret and the wooden armor containing my treasure. I wish to know the whereabouts of the Heavenly Secret and the wooden armor.”

[ Very well. Please wait a moment.]

Mangnyang held Baek Woong’s long saber, concentrating for a brief moment before saying,

[ I cannot sense the Heavenly Secret with my power. It seems it’s a presence of an entirely different dimension… Even after reaching this high existence, I still cannot detect it.]

” Hmm…!!”

[ However, I have located your wooden armor. It lies at the bottom of the trench in the Pacific Ocean. It is the deepest place in the world, so I advise you to prepare adequately before going.]

” Trench? You mean deep underwater?”

[ I will engrave the location into your mind.]

Beep!

As Mangnyang’s fingers glowed, the next moment, images of the scenery near where the wooden armor was submerged along with an approximate location filled my mind. Knowing I’d be able to find it alone, I felt elated and exclaimed,

” Thank you!”

[ ……]

Mangnyang gazed quietly at me before saying,

[ Baek Woong. As a Great Immortal of the Celestial Realm, I have one request to make. Will you accept it?]

” A request? Absolutely.”

The following request from Mangnyang was so unexpected that I was taken aback.

[ For the past 30 years, I have been searching for the whereabouts of the sorcerer Yeodong-bin, who has gone missing from the Celestial Realm. His whereabouts are unknown despite my extensive search and even the Great Bear Empire is clueless. However, with your strength, Baek Woong, you may be able to uncover the whereabouts of Yeodong-bin; I ask you.]

” Ye… Yeodong-bin? Why did he disappear?”

[ I do not know. However, he vanished leaving behind his Fire Dragon Sword.]

” ……”

Since I came to this future world, it’s been nothing but unexpected occurrences. Feeling confused, I nodded nonetheless.

” Understood.”

[ Baek Woong. Please endure until we meet again…]

Pa-at

The connection with Mangnyang was severed. While I still felt a bit dazed from the experience of seeing him during the offering ceremony, Cheon Woo-jin’s words snapped me back to reality.

” Alright. Now let’s go find the wooden armor.”

I grumbled,

” … Just jumping into the depths of the ocean without a plan seems too hard. I’d at least like to go by ship.”

” Understood. I’ll say it again, we don’t have much time. Every minute counts.”

” What? Didn’t you say there are still 17 years until the end?”

Cheon Woo-jin bit down hard on his liquid cigarette, his expression growing serious.

” Dammit… If the news of your return spreads to the underside of society, a struggle for power will erupt. Those quiet until now will swarm out like bees and challenge the Great Bear Empire. The enemies are not just the Illuminati, but also the Hindu Shiva Sect, the Rosy Knights, the Alchemist Guild, and even the Dark Papacy.”

” … Are there more enemies?”

” The current Great Bear Empire is the most powerful empire in history, unifying the Eurasian continent. Even beyond the Illuminati, there are countless dark forces that detest the Great Bear Empire. We need to retrieve everything before they begin to act.”

” Hmm.”

” Share your memory. I’ll figure out the quickest route.”

I transmitted the location of the wooden armor I had just received from Mangnyang. Cheon Woo-jin compared the memory with the map, then said,

” … If we take a ship, it would be fastest from Hokkaido, Japan.”

” Great. So we teleport there?”

” No. All the spells and talismans I could use today are exhausted.”

” Then what do you want me to do…”

” Just wait. It’s about time to wrap things up.”

Just then, a clear voice echoed.

” All assailants have been dealt with.”

Pa-at!

Sagong Lin had walked in silently. She appeared with golden light, flanked by nine Tactical Forces Agents. The moment Sagong Lin appeared, she said,

” Baek Woong, I’ve heard the situation. If you accompany Liu Ha, you’ll be able to find your wooden armor immediately.”

” Sagong Lin! Were you able to repel the enemies’ assault?”

” Yes.”

” Were any of you injured?”

At that, the Tactical Forces Agents next to Sagong Lin wore strange expressions. They looked as if they couldn’t believe they were being asked such a ridiculous question, but Sagong Lin smiled pleasantly.

” Thank you for your concern, Baek Woong.”

” … I didn’t hear the details from Cheon Woo-jin, but what kind of power have you gained over 500 years, Sagong Lin?”

” Well, I’m not quite sure what kind of power it is myself. But whatever it is, it doesn’t come close to the unique abilities you possess…”

Sagong Lin faltered for a moment before continuing,

” The Pacific is an area that’s influenced by the Illuminati. As Cheon Woo-jin said, we need to move immediately. I’ll have five Tactical Forces Agents accompany you.”

” In this case, Gin Nara has appeared, modified by machines. Is there a chance that such creatures could return?”

” I’m not sure. But the Tactical Forces Agents should not hinder your movements.”

” Alright. Thank you.”

As she finished speaking, five Tactical Forces Agents stepped forward and introduced themselves respectfully.

” Tactical Forces Agent Rank 2, Mu Cheon-ryong. It’s an honor to meet you again, Your Majesty.”

Following Mu Cheon-ryong, two older men bowed deeply. They looked much older than Mu Cheon-ryong, appearing to be at least in their 40s or 50s.

” Tactical Forces Agent Rank 3, Yuseong Gak, Go Byeong. It’s a pleasure to meet the person I’ve only heard rumors about… It’s a pleasure.”

” Tactical Forces Agent Rank 4, Samjung Ma-sal, Seok Kwan-pil. It’s an honor to meet a legend.”

Next, two Portrait Immortals, resembling twins, introduced themselves in unison.

” Tactical Forces Agent Rank 5, Portrait Immortal Liu Ha! It’s a high honor to meet you~!”

” Tactical Forces Agent Rank 6, Portrait Immortal Liu O…”

I glanced at them as they introduced themselves.

‘ Ranks 2, 3, and 4 all possess dedicated weaponry and demonstrate commendable martial prowess. Yuseong Gak and Samjung Ma-sal have world-class martial arts. If we consider pure martial skill, Yuseong Gak seems to be the strongest… this person would have been a top-tier expert even in my era.’

One look at their Qi would tell anyone.

While Mu Cheon-ryong was stepping into the peak level, the ones ranked 3 and 4 had reached their high levels long ago, mastering those skills. Back in my time, they would have effortlessly crowned themselves above even the leaders of the Nine Great Sects.

The ranking of the Tactical Forces Agents seemed based more on their overall adaptability and operational capabilities than pure strength. Given that Mu Cheon-ryong wielded the Divine Dragon Seal as an artificial treasure, it was likely that Yuseong Gak’s long saber on his shoulder and Seok Kwan-pil’s weapon were also artificial treasures.

What surprised me most was to see a Portrait Immortal named Liu Ha who looked exactly like a twin. The only distinction was that while Liu Ha appeared as a cheerful girl, Liu O bore gender-neutral features but seemed to lean male.

‘ Are they twin siblings?’

Liu Ha seemed lively and cheerful, while Liu O looked more shadowy and rather timid. As I was observing the peculiar Tactical Forces Agents one by one, I found myself puzzled and said,

” Sagong Lin. It feels like you’ve loaned high-ranking agents among the Tactical Forces to me, but why isn’t the rank 1 agent here?”

” She holds the rank nominally. The effective agents are the nine of us, and she is currently in closed room training, making it hard to summon her.”

” Who is it? Are they strong?”

” Yes, certainly. She is likely one of the strongest mortals in the current world. She is someone you already know and has been the master of many past Tactical Forces agents.”

Who could it be?

” Her name is…”

Just then, as Sagong Lin spoke her name, I opened my eyes wide.

That person has been alive all this time?!

All this while?!

” N-no way. How is that possible?”

” So please depart immediately.”

” Understood.”

A short while later, Liu Ha touched the device a few times with her fingers and said,

” I’ve found the coordinates entered by Head Cheon Woo-jin! Now, let’s install the app and teleport~”

Beep!

Pa-at!!

We soon entered a small transference gate. Upon exiting the transference gate, Portrait Immortal Liu O began pressing the device rapidly and stated,

” I, Portrait Immortal Liu O, command: Control of physical laws. Formation of space.”

Beep!

Despite being summoned deep underwater, as soon as Liu O finished speaking, it felt like I had set foot on solid ground, completely dry. The space around the seabed had been artificially created with air, and even down here, it seemed as though artificial light was shining in. I looked at the spectacle in amazement and turned to Liu Ha.

” Aren’t you a Portrait Immortal? Are you twins?”

With a bright twirl, Liu Ha cheerfully replied,

” That’s right! You’d better treat your sister well, Liu O!”

Liu Ha playfully poked Liu O’s cheek with her finger, causing him to jerk in response.

” We’re just experimental subjects with different chromosomal arrays… What ‘sister’?! If we must label it, I’d be 15699 and you’d be 15700! Is this what humans call siblings?!”

Liu Ha poked Liu O’s cheek harder.

” Shut up. That’s why you’ve been cursed with being a ‘Carrion Crow’!”

” ……”

” Hehe~ Liu O is a fool~”

Liu O sealed his lips, while Liu Ha toyed joyfully with him. Muchen-ryong, observing this scene, cleared his throat and said,

” I apologize. We’ll do our best to find the wooden armor.”

” Understood. Thank you.”

” Now… Divine Dragon Seal!!”

Ching ching ching!!

Mu Cheon-ryong, adorned in the armor of the Divine Dragon Seal, equipped it as a battle suit. Yuseong Gak, Go Byeong, and Samjung Ma-sal also drew their weapons and chanted empowering incantations, donning their respective battle suits as well.

I was taken by surprise.

” You mentioned that armor was an artificial treasure. Does wearing that enhance physical abilities?”

Mu Cheon-ryong nodded.

” Yes. It enhances them about fivefold… including heightened perception. Additionally, it boosts your willpower, and importantly, if the core of alchemy within it remains intact, it automatically repairs itself multiple times.”

” Wow!”

” We refer to this as tactical treasure armor. It functions as a treasure normally but can be equipped when needed.”

It boosts willpower?

‘ I wonder how would I perform wearing it…’

While I was still astonished by such an impressive tactical armor, they began running wildly to find the wooden armor. Utilizing their enhanced perceptions, they seemed to be searching quickly.

About half a moment passed?

Yuseong Gak returned holding the wooden armor in one hand, stating,

” Is this correct, Your Majesty?”

” … Yes.”

I accepted the wooden armor with deep emotion.

Now, I had recovered all the treasures I had gathered 500 years ago, except the Heavenly Secret.

‘ But how do I find the Heavenly Secret? Well, I suppose there might be a method…’

That cat might help me locate it.

Just then, I suddenly sensed something and turned my gaze toward the surface of the sea.

‘ An immense Qi…’

But it wasn’t human. It was a far more unusual and uncanny energy.

I recognized that the totality of that aura greatly exceeded my current capabilities, at least tenfold! It was truly the power of an Immortal!

Kughughugh!!

The aura momentarily simmered and swept across the surface of the ocean before fading away. I realized how colossal that fleeting shadow had been.

What was that?

Just as I was perplexed, Mu Cheon-ryong exclaimed,

” The Monster King has just passed by.”

” Monster King?”

” Originally known as the King Mi-hu, it was said that after the first emperor’s disappearance, a new entity consolidated the warlords after the Great Monster War, becoming the second generation Monster King. They are said to make appearances often accompanied by typhoons and natural disasters.”

” ……”

” Let’s return now.”

Why do I feel this way?

As I stepped into the small transference gate, I couldn’t shake this premonition that I might encounter the Monster King again soon.