1158——————==

Soul of the Evil God

For a moment, I felt my mind going blank at Mangnyang’s words.

Outer God? [Coming Chaos]?

‘As expected… It was that guy sealed in Luoyang.’

The one who toyed with the Divine Thief’s life.

The one who played with Xiang Yu’s life.

No… the ultimate absolute evil that has mocked the entire world!

I had known. No, having reincarnated dozens of times, I definitely couldn’t have missed this guess. I had suspected that an entity with more potential than the Three Sovereigns—an existence that Master Mangnyang was putting all his effort into sealing—wasn’t just any ordinary person, but only now did I confirm it through Mangnyang’s own words.

I quickly gathered my thoughts. Then I spoke to Mangnyang.

“Hey, Mangnyang! Why is that guy’s seal supposed to break in a year? It’s too sudden, without any omen.”

“……”

Mangnyang stared at me intently and finally said.

“Please tell me how to deal with the Outer God. That is this trial on the 99th floor.”

“Mangnyang, you really….”

I looked at Mangnyang, astonished. Could it be that he was genuinely asking me how to deal with the Outer God [Coming Chaos]? It seemed he wouldn’t let me pass the 99th floor unless I told him!

‘Damn it. How am I supposed to know that…!! I’m out here traveling to find it!’

Surely Mangnyang, having recently accepted my obsidian, would understand that I wouldn’t know anything about this situation. As someone with exceptional intelligence, he must surely know there’s no way I could have the answer right now. So why was he asking me for some impossible solution?

I was completely puzzled, but I calmly replied to Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang. Before we get to that, I have a request.”

“What is it?”

“Since I’ve climbed to the 99th floor, there’s no use fighting on the 98th floor when Xiang Yu and my army are at it. If you are communicating with Nüwa, could you ask her to stop Xiang Yu?”

“…That makes sense. Given the situation, there’s no need to further test Baek Woong’s strength, right? He’s already proven himself enough.”

It was as if Mangnyang was appealing to someone in the air. A while later, he spoke.

“It’s been permitted. Wait.”

Woong

One of the artifacts floating around Mangnyang released a colossal wave. After a moment, the wave swept away into the air, and Mangnyang, who had been watching it, said.

“Nüwa has stopped Xiang Yu’s rampage. For now, it seems to be a lull.”

“Get the rest of the companions to the 99th floor as well.”

“Impossible. You are the only one who has climbed to the 99th floor by your own power, and the only one qualified to face my trial is you, Baek Woong.”

“……”

“Just because there are more people doesn’t mean solving this trial of wisdom will become easier…”

With a cutting tone, Mangnyang dismissed my request, pointing again at Baek Woong.

“Now, answer me. How do you plan to face the [Coming Chaos] that will be unsealed in a year?”

“Ugh.”

Damn… It’s maddening trying to answer this impossible question!

But having faced experiences like this more than once, I snapped back at Mangnyang bluntly.

“Before answering that, shouldn’t you be telling me what’s going on? If it’s a trial of wisdom, how can you just cut right to the question without any context?”

“What situation do you want me to tell you about?”

“I asked right from the start. Why is the seal supposed to be broken in a year? Mangnyang has been holding out against the barrier, so what suddenly happened?”

“I see. In the end, I have no choice but to tell you that…”

Mangnyang muttered with a sigh.

“Baek Woong, this will be a long story, so focus.”

“Of course.”

“There’s something we’ve always found vague during our rebirths, isn’t there? That’s the relationship between Nüwa and the Primordial Void Ruler.”

“…I thought they had a cooperative relationship.”

“That was true. Until the end of times.”

Mangnyang paused briefly, then slowly gazed up at the sky.

“Nüwa maintained a passive attitude from the point when Fuxi was sealed. She had no desire to save this world; her stronger instinct was to protect Fuxi. What she wanted was to maintain this precarious world and to do so, she tried to oppress the weak with force. That attitude coincided with the interest of the avatar of [Coming Chaos], Hong Gyun Do-in, causing the disasters that led to the deaths or sealing of the Three Sovereigns in ancient times.”

“……”

“However, that being known as Hong Gyun Do-in did not last long and soon changed into the being known as the Primordial Void Ruler. At that moment, Nüwa went through considerable turmoil.”

I gasped at those words, surprised.

“It… changed? I’ve never heard that before…”

This was genuinely new information to me. Mangnyang continued slowly.

“It’s what I heard directly from Nüwa. Originally, she intended to grant Hong Gyun Do-in the position of ruler of the Celestial Realm and manage it together, but Hong Gyun Do-in vanished overnight, and in his place, the Primordial Void Ruler appeared out of nowhere. The problem was that the Primordial Void Ruler was not the same as Hong Gyun Do-in; he possessed a separate persona and had yet to [Awaken]. He didn’t even share memories, appearing as empty as a child.”

“W-What…?”

“Because of that, Hong Gyun Do-in’s vacancy was temporarily filled by Yu Shun, a person from the Three Sovereigns, who was sent as an avatar under the name Jade Emperor to manage things. The Primordial Void Ruler was immensely powerful, but he did not possess the disposition of a ruler. That was the ancient truth of the Celestial Realm.”

I shouted at Mangnyang.

“[Awaken]? Are you saying that when the Primordial Void Ruler awakens, he becomes the avatar of [Coming Chaos] who annihilates the Three Sovereigns in the ancient days?”

“That’s a reasonable interpretation.”

“What the hell is that guy’s identity…?”

“Although he hasn’t awakened as an avatar, he senses his essence faintly and is gradually coming to consciousness… Baek Woong, you must have encountered a being like that in the outer universe already.”

“……!!”

As soon as I heard that, I felt a shiver run down my spine.

[Mask]!!

If the Primordial Void Ruler is the [Coming Chaos]’s mask, it all makes sense. Though this had been a rough hypothesis we’d been making, it wasn’t shocking. What truly sent chills down my spine was something else.

“Th-This doesn’t make sense. If Hong Gyun Do-in ascended from the mask to the avatar and with overwhelming power obliterated the Three Sovereigns… why would he ever destroy himself and transform into the mask of the Primordial Void Ruler? Why would he reappear after already winning the fight…?”

“……”

At that moment, Mangnyang looked incredibly grim.

“Perhaps just for fun….”

“What?”

“…Regardless, Nüwa began to manage the Celestial Realm under the name Queen Mother of the West while leaving the Primordial Void Ruler unattended. It would be more accurate to say that she couldn’t easily approach a being who seemed to inherit Hong Gyun Do-in, as he had a different persona and nature. Nüwa tried to keep the unstable world going until the end of times, but as you know, the curse of the Evil God completely changed the situation 500 years ago.”

“Nüwa was considerably harmed at that time too, right? Why is she currently acting as if she’s completely fine?”

“The curse dealt tremendous damage to the Five Emperors, who possess [Chaos] traits, but it was less impactful on the Three Sovereigns who are closer to [Order]. Nüwa, Fuxi, and Shennong suffered considerable damage, but it wasn’t fatal.”

“……?”

I tilted my head at Mangnyang’s explanation.

“Didn’t the Evil God intend to wipe out all Three Sovereigns? Why did it unleash such an ambiguous curse?”

“The Three Sovereigns lack significant influence after the end of days and hence weren’t a true match for the Evil God… Beginning from when Fuxi was sealed, the Evil God had little interest in the Three Sovereigns. The true enemy was probably just Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen himself.”

“Just the Emperor? Then why not concentrate the curse on him?”

“Because….”

Mangnyang hesitated, lips twitching before he continued.

“Regardless, Nüwa sustained harm at that time, but it wasn’t deadly. She could recover her strength well before the end of times. However, she purposefully acted as if she were seriously wounded and handed over authority to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens. This was likely due to her belief that cutting ties with the human realm would be favorable.”

“Why?”

“In a situation where she couldn’t foresee what would happen at the end of times, Nüwa feared she wouldn’t be able to protect Fuxi if she remained too close to the foreboding human world. She probably wanted to keep some distance and isolate the Primordial Void Ruler from the human realm. This thought likely strengthened after the rise of the Heavenly Demon.”

“……”

“So, over 500 years have passed, but something changed recently.”

Mangnyang’s gaze fixed firmly on me.

“Right after you returned from the Land and Earth Diagram.”

“…What?”

“From that day forth, the Primordial Void Ruler, who had been staying quietly in the Celestial Realm, contacted the Queen Mother of the West, declaring his intention to escape the barrier of Luoyang.”

At these following words, my face hardened.

“[I] will escape the barrier of Luoyang…. And right after that declaration, the Primordial Void Ruler disappeared from the Celestial Realm.”

I twitched my brows.

“Such….”

“The current whereabouts of the Primordial Void Ruler are unknown.”

I had been suspicious when he avoided answering about the Primordial Void Ruler’s whereabouts, but I couldn’t have imagined such a situation.

“Also, on that very day, I, Lord Hyunheogung, was immediately contacted by the Queen Mother of the West. Nüwa, who had known about the closeness between you both, requested a course of action, and I exhausted all my wisdom to strike a deal with her. That’s why I was pre-appointed as the trial attendant on the 99th floor, while until your arrival here, I’ve been maneuvering things quietly behind the scenes.”

“W-What nonsense.”

Overwhelmed, I shouted.

“If that had happened, you should have told me! What if I had suddenly died in between? Would you have just left me to go into my 29th life not knowing anything?!”

There had been countless crises where I almost died. At least three or four times, I would have been dead if I hadn’t gotten lucky! Honestly, I felt that surviving up to now and reaching this point was more about luck than skill.

To think Mangnyang had kept this hidden from me and orchestrated this underhanded scheme was unbelievable.

Then Mangnyang sighed and said.

“I’m sorry. But Nüwa wanted everything kept secret, and the terms for that were significant. All I could wish for was for you to overcome all the trials and make it this far…”

“Crazy… What kind of reward were you talking about?”

“That’s the reward you will receive immediately upon clearing the trials of the 99th floor, the tower of the Celestial Realm. I can’t tell you yet…”

“Mangnyang. I’m disappointed. I didn’t expect you to betray me like this.”

I felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal. I had trusted Mangnyang fully, believing he would never hide anything from me, and now this?! I couldn’t suppress my emotions and shouted vehemently.

“Was your plan to scout to the 99th floor just an excuse? It meant you could let me look around until you reached the 99th floor?”

“…That’s true. I had that authority.”

“What was this nonsense about the [Old Ruler] appearing on the 99th floor? You were just toying with me all along, knowing full well what would happen!!”

“I intended to build tension because I knew that powerful beings would emerge up until that point. Nüwa was going all-in on this trial, so I thought she would set unreasonable conditions for you. And sure enough, a being with infinite power like Xiang Yu has emerged.”

“Damn!! These are all just excuses! What do you want me to do with that?! The fact that you lied to me doesn’t change anything about this!”

As I wailed, Mangnyang flinched, his face turning sad. Then he said.

“…I have no words. But I can promise this: if you make it through this trial… you will gain the bare minimum chance to prevent the world’s destruction.”

I bit my lip hard and retorted.

“I find it hard to trust your promise.”

“……”

“Rather… it might have been better to die in between.”

I meant it. I never thought I’d feel this betrayed by Mangnyang. I should entrust my lives and trust once more from the next life, but what should I do now? Since I realized that even Mangnyang could lie to me for his own gain, trusting him became difficult.

While I wore a bewildered expression, Mangnyang asked again.

“I’ll ask once more. The escape time predicted by the Primordial Void Ruler for the [Coming Chaos] is precisely one year. If the Outer God escapes, how will you stop him?”

“……”

I didn’t want to answer.

But that wasn’t just about the trial; it was a question I had to face as long as I lived this life. Thus, I couldn’t avoid the question and had to think carefully. After a while, I finally spoke.

“Are you saying it’s impossible to stop it even if Master Mangnyang does his best?”

“Indeed. Currently, the Primordial Void Ruler has definitely awakened to a state of [Avatar] for some reason. Think of the power of Hong Gyun Do-in when he had annihilated the Three Sovereigns; if that being leads to the destruction of the barrier from the outside, no matter how strong you are, even Master can’t withstand it.”

That’s likely true. Just the approach of destruction is enough to stretch Mangnyang’s efforts to maintain the barrier, and if the avatar joins in to break it, there’s no hope.

“Is there no way to gather the Seven Luminaries and wish to the Emperor within the time limit?”

With the current strength, gathering the Seven Luminaries within three months is more than doable.

At my words, Mangnyang smiled bitterly.

“You already saw for yourself in the Land and Earth Diagram… the crayfish just helps the crabs, doesn’t it?”

“Ah.”

“Besides, even if we were on different sides, the Emperor would also just be a subordinate existence compared to that being. How can a lower being stop a higher being’s steps? They can only synchronize and conform to the world’s destruction.”

“…That makes sense.”

“From now on, I won’t accept any suggestions that are based on ‘what ifs.’ Please suggest to me just once, a way to stop the [Coming Chaos].”

Mangnyang spoke with earnest eyes.

“This isn’t just a solution for me, but something you ought to tell Nüwa herself….”

“……!!”

“You must persuade her as a Reborn Person. Originally, the arrogant Nüwa wouldn’t listen to a word, but since you changed the [Cycle] in the Land and Earth Diagram, you provided her with a glimmer of trust. This is the last chance.”

I see.

In that moment, I realized.

‘Mangnyang volunteered here because he believed I would provide Nüwa with the right answer.’

The target I was speaking to wasn’t Mangnyang. Through him, I would convey my will to Nüwa, and Mangnyang was but the medium. And as a medium, he would have struck a deal with Nüwa to receive some assistance for me in return. That’s why he brought me here while lying to me.

‘…Let me think.’

The feeling of betrayal toward Mangnyang still hadn’t faded, but this wasn’t the time to get swept up in that emotion. My shoulders bore the weight of countless fellow companions’ hearts and futures.

“……”

After considerable thought about what to do, I finally decided to question Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang. May I ask you just one question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Does Nüwa want the True Martial Home?”

Mangnyang responded nonchalantly, as expected.

“Like Fuxi, it’s an issue of little relevance to her.”

“…I see.”

“What you wish to save will determine her answer.”

Mangnyang’s words were quite profound.

I pondered for a moment and slowly opened my mouth.

“…I intend to resurrect [The One Who Destroys the Gods] within the remaining year. With that being as my Dharma Protector, I will attain [True Martial Home].”

That was the answer Fuxi had presented to me in the Land and Earth Diagram.

While saying that everything’s destruction might be the worst-case scenario, it’s still much better than letting the Outer God resurrect and have everything endure through eternal torment. And at this point, it’s hard to imagine a better solution than that of the wisest being, Fuxi.

Naturally, this answer should belong to Fuxi.

After all, he had created the biggest turning point in this life.

One year might be tight, but if I do my best, it could be possible!

At my words, Mangnyang seemed to smile.

“…Somehow, I expected you to say that. You… resemble Dharma quite a bit.”

“Is that the correct answer?”

“That’s not for me to decide.”

Mangnyang then gazed into the air and shouted.

“The Reborn Person has made his decision. Now, the response lies with you, Goddess Nüwa!!”

Kugugugu!

At that moment, everything on the 99th floor shattered and crumbled, transforming into a riot of colors, swirling into chaos. The familiar sensation of time and space collapsing, as if the landscape that resembled a palace hall completely disintegrated, leaving no sense of up, down, left, or right, making me feel as though I was thrown into chaos.

Sssssss…

After a moment, something silvery began to reveal itself. The being that appeared before me was none other than Goddess Nüwa.

She spoke to me.

[Reborn Person…. What you have chosen is merely a different method of doom…. While in that sense, the countless beings perishing without leaving a trace has no difference. To resurrect [The One Who Destroys the Gods] symbolizes such meaning.]

“……”

[You hold a great attachment to the world of humans and civilization… You love them…. Despite this, do you feel no hesitation in choosing such a method?]

Visions of countless humans from the Great Bear Empire flitted through my mind.

There were various people in the world even 500 years later, each with their own lives.

They would want to continue living happily into the future.

The destruction I choose would trample upon their happiness—this is what my conscience is calling into question.

“…I do.”

Images of the young trainees practicing in the White Lotus Sect flashed before my mind.

Their futures emerged as well.

Yet I clenched my fists and spoke to Nüwa.

“But if it means being forever mocked in a false life, perhaps it’s better to just end this world! That’s the answer I’ve arrived at!”

[…….]

“Even if I can’t achieve True Martial Home, that existence will at least possess the bare minimum strength to resist [Coming Chaos]!”

Now that I have inherited Dharma’s will, I have no room for hesitation!

Though I still feel somewhat unprepared, as long as I achieve [True Martial Home], all that is meaningless! If it’s possible, let’s make it happen this time!

[…Indeed…. So Fuxi placed his wishes upon you…. That impulsive thought….]

Nüwa seemed lost in thought.

Then she turned to the side and said.

[A new Wheel King has indeed wagered on you….]

What?

A moment later, Nüwa stretched out her hands and said.

[Then I shall invite you…. into the ancient dream where Fuxi is sealed.]

Paaaah!!

In an instant, I found myself transported somewhere.

And as I opened my eyes in the bright light, a familiar face came into view.

“Long time no see, Baek Woong.”