1017——————==

Soul of the Evil God

After grabbing the rope, I hurried outside with Cheon Woo-jin and Liu Ha. And I asked,

“What’s next?”

“I’ll handle the reporting. You should go find Professor Sima Ling at Luoyang University following Liu Ha.”

“Sima Ling?”

“I’ve mentioned it. Since you can’t be the Transference Gate, you need to learn the basics and history of this world yourself. I think that professor would be the right fit to teach you. Spend a few days studying.”

For now, Cheon Woo-jin seemed too busy with public duties to spare time for teaching me. Hence, the recommendation for a learned person of this era.

“Got it.”

Crash!

I took Liu Ha’s Transference Gate to Luoyang University. While exploring the place, I said,

“What’s this place? A lot of young folks are wandering around.”

“Luoyang University is the best university in the Great Bear Empire~~. It’s a research place where many humans flock like cockroaches, studying academic pursuits in the ancient capital and capital of Luoyang~.”

“Hm… I think I get it.”

There were also places of study in my era. However, the atmosphere was so different from what I knew that I couldn’t quite grasp what this place was about. Following Liu Ha, I entered a large building and was soon led to a room.

“Welcome. The chairman of Luoyang University, Professor Sima Ling, will meet His Majesty the First Emperor Baek Woong.”

A young and beautiful woman stood up and bowed to me. She was probably Sima Ling. I asked, intrigued,

“Do you know I’m the First Emperor?”

“Yes. I’m also an executive of the Wan Hua Ling, directly under Her Majesty Sagong Lin.”

I glanced at Liu Ha, standing nearby, and said,

“Like this fella?”

“She is an agent dedicated to combat while I handle administrative duties and secret matters of the empire. We each have our own tasks.”

“Got it…. Anyway, thank you.”

I was guided by Sima Ling to a study room. There, I began to learn basic knowledge and a brief history of the current era step by step.

I studied for about five time periods, and I felt I had grasped a fair amount about this era. There was still a lot I didn’t know, but at least I felt equipped with the knowledge of an average human living in this age.

After a solid five time periods of non-stop lecturing, Sima Ling said,

“Let’s take a short break. If you study for another five time periods, you should reach your goal amount of study.”

“……”

“I heard His Majesty possesses boundless stamina and concentration, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

I continued to focus on my studies but was exhausted and asked,

“It feels like dawn is approaching… Aren’t you human? Like Liu Ha, an Immortal Portrait?”

I couldn’t help but doubt Sima Ling’s identity. She had been bringing me various materials to lecture without taking a break for all five time periods, showing no signs of fatigue. It didn’t seem like human stamina. Sima Ling responded lightly.

“There’s no need to grandly discuss Immortal Portraits. I’m just a member of the Sima family. I’ve been a scholar since birth and have trained in the Internal Energy Cultivation Techniques of the Daoist Master since I was young. It’s natural for my stamina to be better than that of an average person.”

“Still… hm…”

“I got my PhD at a young age and have lectured hundreds of times since. So anyone could do this level.”

“A young PhD… So how old are you now?”

“I’m twenty-six now. I earned my PhD at nine.”

“……”

It seemed Sima Ling was someone with an impressive amount of experience in academia despite her youthful appearance. She was selected as the most suitable person to deliver knowledge to me, who suddenly appeared from the medieval era. In reality, learning from Sima Ling made me feel like I could understand just about everything.

During the whole lecture, I asked Sima Ling something I was curious about.

“So, is it true that those who genuinely believe in the apocalypse as claimed by the White Lotus Sect are not even a handful in the entire empire?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Since the White Lotus Sect is the state religion of the Great Bear Empire, even young children in the marketplace know about the apocalypse set for thirteen years later, but no one truly believes. Those who genuinely believe and prepare are a small number of high-ranking officials in the empire and some CEOs of transnational corporations… There are probably less than five hundred people among the tens of billions in the empire.”

Was what Deputy Sect Leader Dokgo Sung said true…?

I found it hard to understand.

“No way. The apocalypse is real. Surely everyone would fall into hell without exception. How can no one believe it? Especially when they all know the time of the apocalypse!”

“…Honestly, I don’t believe it either.”

“What?”

Sima Ling said bitterly.

“I’ve seen monsters, but I’ve never laid eyes on terrifying entities like the Old Ruler, Apostles, Avatars, or the Eight Divine Parts. I’ve only encountered them through literature and knowledge. Even knowing the truth of history through Sagong Lin, I still can’t grasp it. Ordinary people would surely never believe.”

“What…?”

“Nowadays, they’re making fantasy dramas about monster wars on public broadcasting, and the existence of the Eight Divine Parts is treated as mere literary material. If you claim the Eight Divine Parts existed, they’d think you’re crazy.”

“……”

“Now is the age of revival of civilization, a time of unprecedented scientific advancement. The theory of relativity and quantum mechanics emerged decades ago, and even CRISPR technology has become practical in reality. There are thousands of satellites orbiting the Earth, and even a lunar base has been established, so who would easily believe in unrealistic concepts like the Old Ruler and the return of doom?”

“Hmm….”

“Unless you’re a fanatic who genuinely believes in the White Lotus Sect, it’s unlikely.”

I let out a sigh.

‘Even so, it’s too much…’.

I had thought that by now, all humans would unanimously unite to overthrow the apocalypse, passionately striving together. Instead, they were brushing it off as nothing more than legends or religious nonsense.

Only seventeen years left, how can this be?

Lost for words, Sima Ling said,

“Thus far, we’ve covered general societal common sense. Now, I will tell you about the development history of Immortal Portraits and artificial treasures.”

“Hmm, that’s exactly what I wanted to know.”

“Immortal Portraits were created during the founding of Your Majesty’s Great Bear Empire and were continuously improved through the efforts of the Zhuge Clan. The form of Immortal Portraits we have today appeared about fifty years ago, and that was when they began to have self-identity.”

“Self-identity? Why did they gain it?”

“Because they surpassed a singularity where extreme technologies combined. Originally, Immortal Portraits were created as tributes to the Old Ruler, but the best technologies from both East and West created a synergistic effect. Homunculus absorbed the very soul and created new sentient beings.”

“Hmm!”

“However, the first Immortal Portraits with independent identities reportedly had extremely short lifespans. Although Immortal Portraits are supposed to have a semi-perpetual lifespan, that first one lived only two years…”

“How about now? Has the lifespan lengthened?”

“……”

Sima Ling fell silent for a moment and then said,

“Yes. It has increased to twenty years.”

I was taken aback by the unexpected words.

“What? Why can’t it regain a semi-perpetual lifespan?”

“It’s presumed to be the cost of gaining self-identity. By gaining self-identity, they can independently acquire numerous technologies and knowledge with immense potential, but research shows the consumption of their soul has become far worse than before they had identity.”

“…Then Liu Ha and Liu O will…”

“They are Immortal Portraits that have been around for over five years. They will likely perish before the apocalypse arrives.”

“……”

I thought about Liu Ha waiting outside. Does she know she’s going to die before turning twenty? I carefully asked,

“What about the plan to create the Ultimate Portrait using Divine Blood? I’ve heard that method maximizes the performance of an Immortal Portrait. Does Divine Blood also increase the lifespan of an Immortal Portrait?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know about that. That’s only what I learned from a confidential paper, and there’s a separate department that handles and researches Immortal Portraits.”

“Where is that?”

“The Superiority Research Department directly under Her Majesty Sagong Lin. It’s where the greatest minds and sorcerers of the Great Bear Empire assemble to develop artificial treasures. I once entered there as an apprentice before shifting to academia.”

“Is it separate from Cheon Woo-jin’s lab?”

“That lab is only officially a research lab, but in reality, it’s where Seo Mun-hye’s seal is managed. They don’t engage in proper research and development.”

“…Hmm.”

Given Cheon Woo-jin’s lazy nature, he wouldn’t actively develop or research anything. Why would he bother with studying Immortal Portraits or the Diablo path when he already is the world’s top illusionist? Considering that he dislikes the Diablo path, it was only natural.

“Now, as for artificial treasures…”

Clang!

As Sima Ling equipped what looked like steel claws, a metallic sound rang out. As she moved while clinking the steel claws, Sima Ling continued,

“Artificial treasures are powerful relics of the Celestial Realm and are practically the best magical tools humans can use, but as we distance ourselves from the Celestial Realm, it has become impossible to artificially obtain these treasures. Thus, the Great Bear Empire has been developing and using artificial treasures. The alloy imbued with Divine Blood from Mount Ye is magically processed to create top-tier magical tools that resemble true treasures.”

“I know that, but is there a significant power difference between artificial and original treasures?”

“Indeed. No matter how much we try to make them resemble the genuine ones, there are limits, so generally, the potency of artificial treasures is about 70% of the genuine article. The most outstanding artificial treasure, the Baek Woong, was crafted by Zhuge Mu-hu himself, as he reached the Great Immortal level.”

“……”

Hearing that, I pondered and replied,

“Which means the power of artificial treasures is determined by the skill of the maker?”

“Exactly. In the early days of artificial treasure production, powerful sorcerers among the companions of the First Emperor created high-quality treasures, but as they passed away one by one, the power of artificial treasures gradually weakened.”

“Aside from Seong Jin or the Zhuge Clan, didn’t any Great Immortal Level sorcerers emerge?”

“No. With the Celestial Realm being so far away, no matter how talented a sorcerer is, there are limits. Achieving sorcery goes beyond mere talent and is heavily influenced by Divine Qi.”

“Got it….”

“Moreover, since Cheon Woo-jin suddenly lost his powers, the quality of artificial treasure production has decreased to the point where they hesitate to produce them… But the advancement of science and technology has compensated for that deficiency.”

“Science and technology?”

Sima Ling nodded and said,

“Previously, it was only engraving sorcery into Divine Blood alloy, but the latest artificial treasures are produced by integrating Quantum Craft, altering the very principles of their creation.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a practical technology that emerged as research on quantum mechanics deepened, and it’s the first scientific technology developed by the Great Bear Empire. I’ll show you the power.”

“……?”

“With the authority of my master, I command the Earth Dragon Claw, reveal your true form!”

Clang! Clang!

Suddenly, the iron claws on Sima Ling’s hand emitted strong metallic sounds as they began to rapidly multiply. In an instant, the claws covered her entire right arm in steel, and soon, her whole body was enveloped in iron armor. When her body was completely covered in black iron armor, I immediately realized.

‘…This is the appearance of Tactical Forces Agent Zhu Xian when she equipped the Demon Dragon Seal!’

Then Sima Ling said,

“Release.”

Swish!!

And in the blink of an eye, the black iron armor covering Sima Ling’s body returned to normal. She shook off the claws from her hand and said without even catching her breath,

“According to the Material Wave hypothesis, the Power of Waves resonates with Divine Blood to materialize the desired form through Thought Power. The armor form I just wore was visualized by my imagination through the records in the artificial treasure. The initial practical case of quantum mechanics that makes this possible is Quantum Craft, which is a darling of modern scientific technology!”

I was flabbergasted and halted her.

“Wait, hold on…. This is too complex; can’t you explain it more simply?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I get excited when it comes to artificial treasures….”

Sima Ling mumbled sheepishly and then said,

“To put it simply, artificial treasures can change their appearance based on the wearer’s imagination. They can ignore the limitations of physical laws and either increase their mass or enhance their power. The power of cognition can change the intrinsic state of matter, and Quantum Craft is a scientific device that maximizes that change rate.”

“Imagination….”

“Also, it’s been recently revealed that artificial treasures have a trait of growing with the wearer. It can be called a top-notch weapon in every respect.”

“Oh!”

My curiosity was piqued. So I picked up the artificial treasure, Earth Dragon Claw, that Sima Ling had placed on the table and equipped it on my hand while saying,

“With the authority of my master, I command the Earth Dragon Claw, reveal your true form!”

“……”

Nothing happened at all. I struggled, picturing the black iron armor in my mind, but there was no response.

“…Why isn’t this working?”

“It has three levels of security: fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and wave recognition, so only the original owner can use it.”

“What the hell…. Can’t you make me one too?”

“I’ll submit that request to His Majesty…”

Just as Sima Ling was answering my question,

Boom!!

“Woah?!”

Suddenly, the Earth Dragon Claw I had on my hand let out a mighty sound and began to grow rapidly, quickly reaching a size reminiscent of a towering tree, smashing through the ceiling. It grew to a size that could easily be the length of this table and felt as if a giant’s arm rested on mine.

“……!!”

The surprising thing was that despite the enormous steel arm, I felt no weight at all. Would someone even wearing silk robes not feel weight like this? As I lifted the arm covered in the Earth Dragon Claw, it continued to grow larger.

Boom!

Boom!

“Ugh, ugh.”

At this rate, the Earth Dragon Claw would totally crush the building?! Panicking, Sima Ling shouted next to me,

“This is impossible! It shouldn’t have recognized the user, yet the Quantum Craft is causing a runaway phenomenon….”

No, the important part isn’t that!

How do I stop this?!

I tried to pull the Earth Dragon Claw off my hand with force, but it felt as if it had become integrated with my body; it wouldn’t budge. The only way to detach it would be to cut off my own arm, which made me hesitate.

‘What do I do?’

Just then,

“Your Majesty the First Emperor! Use your intent!”

I quickly turned around to see Liu Ha had arrived nearby. Astonished by the Earth Dragon Claw piercing through the ceiling, she said,

“To reveal your dissatisfaction this way, you indeed are something else~.”

“…Use my intent? How?”

“Just envision the shape you want~.”

Envision the shape I want…

Return to normal!

I concentrated as I visualized the shape of the Earth Dragon Claw beyond thought.

Sssss

Moments later, the Earth Dragon Claw stopped growing and quickly began to shrink back to the size that fit perfectly onto my hand. Once the Earth Dragon Claw regained its original form, I asked Liu Ha, who stood next to me,

“Liu Ha! How did you know how to use your intent?”

“Well, it’s because Deputy Commander Zhu Xian has done it before~.”

“Zhu Xian?”

“When her potential got too big and went out of control, she couldn’t handle it herself, so Her Majesty Sagong Lin used her intent to help her~. You can manage artificial treasures with your intent.”

“…I see.”

I quickly understood the situation from Liu Ha’s words.

‘Imagining to materialize…. That was it!’

Quantum Craft.

That technology was wrapped up as Thought Power, but that Thought Power probably resembled the concept of intent. It must have been carefully developed for martial artists who could use Intent. However, because it was more comprehensive, even an ordinary person who couldn’t use intent could exert some level of performance through imagination.

While I stared blankly at the ceiling of the ruined classroom, Sima Ling said,

“Let’s change the classroom.”

“Are we going to continue studying?”

“There’s no reason not to.”

I thought we were taking a break…. Damn it.

You mean another five consecutive periods of lectures…?

Sigh…. I guess I have no choice.

I reluctantly followed Sima Ling to continue studying for five more consecutive periods before finally being able to leave. After finishing my studies at Luoyang University, I went back to the palace and slept. I wondered if Master Mangnyang would appear in my dreams, but he didn’t.

Instead, I had a strange dream. A creature that looked like an Evil God flew through the distant universe and disappeared into another world, and the dream had another dream within it. I kept finding myself in a loop within dreams when suddenly, I was out on a walk in Soeul Village. While strolling, I spotted Master Mangnyang looking down at me from the distant sky, then jumping down gracefully. Master Mangnyang made a meow sound, and I began to wander aimlessly outside the village while feeding Golden, and she looked hungry, so I offered her Evil God as food.

And then I woke up from the dream.

“……”

What a ridiculous dream.

It’s been ages since I had such a silly dream…

‘Have I studied too much…. Hm.’

The next day, I got up, washed my face, and stepped outside. Upon coming out, Liu Ha was waiting and said,

“Your Majesty the First Emperor, Her Majesty Sagong Lin orders you to immediately proceed to the top floor of the Orbit Elevator~.”

“Why there?”

From her subsequent words, I sensed today would also be a challenging day.

“Unofficially, the first contact between the Great Bear Empire and an alien race has been made. They are called the Galactic Tribe Alliance, and today is the day of the meeting~~.”