956——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Life number 28 has begun.

Buzz!!

And the moment I opened my eyes in the barn, I felt four circles floating in my head.

” ……?!”

What the?!

This has never happened before!

The four circles appeared as if they symbolized the East, West, South, and North, each emitting different colors of light. When I closed my eyes, they naturally hovered in my consciousness world, feeling almost like the sun.

‘What are those circles?’

In the center of the four circles was what looked like a dark hole. It seemed to symbolize that the center was empty.

‘Let’s reach out for it.’

Just as I was examining the circles, I unleashed my intent and suddenly straightened the Intent Heavenly Pillar. My will seemed to strike the softly glowing white circle hard, causing it to resonate.

Buzz –

Crackle!!

” ……!!”

I realized that there was suddenly the Vajra of the Thunder God Lineage hovering above my hand. The vivid touch of the Vajra sent shivers down my spine.

“Did I inherit it!!”

I had no idea what the Great Master Da Ma’s words meant about returning the Four Great Spirit Deities to me, but could it really be like this…?!

Perhaps Da Ma changed the rules at the last moment during the True Martial Home to give me the Four Great Spirit Deities. Just as I was amazed, I reached forward with the Vajra to unleash my Divine Power.

Fsssht

The Vajra quickly corroded and vanished as if it had exerted some power.

” Ugh.”

In disbelief, I looked at my hand, but there was no dust left, and it had vanished rapidly. I was left dumbfounded, unsure of what to make of it.

‘What? It seems like the Four Great Spirit Deities were inherited, but why did they disappear when I tried to exert power?!’

I sat there for a while, pondering what had happened. I then decided to stimulate the remaining three circles one by one with the Intent Heavenly Pillar, but each time they were summoned briefly before swiftly disappearing again.

” Hmm. First, I need to meet Zhuge Sa.”

Normally, I would go to Mangnyang for a strategy, but I wasn’t sure if the dark qi that seeped into my memory was resolved. It seemed wise to first secure Zhuge Sa as a companion. So I stood up and went to get the Heavenly Secret.

Thud

After obtaining the Heavenly Secret, I used a summoning beast to get to Shandong and then acquired the Golden Lamp. After getting the Golden Lamp, I headed to the Great Thunder Valley to fetch the Wooden Armor, where General Hwang Yeon was imprisoned.

I infiltrated the Great Thunder Valley and, just like before, planned to defeat the monster elegantly and rescue General Hwang Yeon and his team. Having done it over ten times, it shouldn’t be too difficult, but the problem arose when I faced the Giant Toad monster.

Wooooo

The Giant Toad didn’t spring at me like usual, looking to attack like a rat intruder; instead, it hesitated and stood frozen in place. It seemed odd, as it would typically remain still but was secretly chanting summoning spells or preparing evil curses.

‘Why is it acting like that?’

I tilted my head. I couldn’t understand why a monster belonging to the demon category would show such behavior. They’re always supposed to view humans as beneath them, so why this reaction?

A moment later, the Giant Toad monster spoke to me in my head.

[Human… no… are you really human…?]

It came through loud and clear. Thinking back, I had never effectively communicated with this thing before, which made it quite strange. I had sensed its will before, but never clearly. I crossed my arms, standing roughly ten feet away from the Giant Toad.

“Yeah. I’m Baek Woong, a human. Monster, why aren’t you attacking me?”

[ ……]

The Giant Toad’s next words took me by surprise.

[I can feel it… your pure ‘power’… it’s so immense that… I’ve realized I cannot win against you… just by the outline of your strength…]

“Hmm…”

[Even if we fought, I cannot defeat you… please show me mercy, either spare me… or kill me cleanly.]

So, it sensed with its demon instincts that I was much stronger and gave up on futile resistance?

‘How strange…’

It’s been more than a decade since I reached the level of being able to combat a monster one-on-one. Even when I had peak combat power, I could have taken down something like this without getting hurt, so why would it suddenly want to give up fighting now?

Killing it would be easy.

With the Intent Heavenly Pillar of the Absolute Realm, just a stroke in the void would cleave it in two. Of course, if it had a shell and magical defense, it might be a little harder to kill in one blow, but with its combat will gone, it would indeed be a piece of cake.

‘Killing it is kind of boring though.’

After all, this monster didn’t have a direct grudge against me. Now that I perceived its hostility as diminished, I figured I could at least have a conversation. Shaking my head, I spoke.

“My goal is the treasures behind you in the cave. If you neatly leave this place, no, this world and return to the demon realm, then I might let you go.”

[… Return to the demon realm…? What do you mean?]

“Literally. You’re not from this world. You were summoned by a Demon Sorcerer to guard this Great Thunder Valley, right?”

[ ……]

The Giant Toad paused for a moment before responding.

[I don’t know…]

“You don’t know?”

[I became aware while in this world… I had not seen whoever summoned me, and… I had lived quietly deep in the cave for a long time… I have no memories before that.]

“You mean a Demon Sorcerer didn’t summon you?”

[I’ve lived for hundreds of years in human time… although I don’t quite know how time flows, I have never encountered a Demon Sorcerer like you mentioned… ]

“Hmm.”

How unexpected. I thought it was a typical demon summoning creature, but I guess not?

I glared at it with sharp eyes and asked.

“Then why is the cave behind you there, and why are you guarding it?”

[Originally, I lived deep in the heart when I was discovered by a human named Zhuge Yulong… and that human proposed a deal with me.]

“Zhuge Yulong!”

[Do you know him…?]

“I know a bit. Go on.”

[Zhuge Yulong told me to reside here… and guard the cave where the treasures of the former dynasty are stored… In exchange… he said he would occasionally feed me the prisoners of the Great Thunder Valley…]

” ……”

I frowned at that. Then I said.

“So, you ate humans. And yet, without any memory, how are you able to use magic and summoning curses?”

[Ah… no… I was hungry… and… magical stuff… I just knew it naturally from the start… as I grew larger, I gradually realized… ]

So, it’s a naturally born demon kind that can inherently use magic without formal learning. However, I knew the Giant Toad monster before me was a creature that devoured humans, so I pondered how to deal with it.

‘What to do. Killing it would certainly ease my mind.’

No one would really care if I killed a man-eating monster like I’ve done before. In fact, it’s usually more strange not to kill it. However, for some reason, I felt that I could at least show some minimal compassion towards this creature.

If it didn’t exist because it wanted to…

Is its existence itself a sin?

I thought this over carefully and said.

“Promise, on your name, that you will no longer eat innocent animals or people. Then, leave the central plains and live your life far away in a desolate place.”

[Oh… ohhh… are you sparing me…?]

“Hurry and promise. Bring forth your true name.”

[Ugh… Uhm… my name is…]

The previously silent Giant Toad finally spoke.

[I don’t know…]

” ……”

Swoosh

‘This is getting a bit tedious now.’

I drew my sword. The Giant Toad monster, sensing fear, shouted.

[It’s, it’s true!! I don’t know my name!! The one who named me never called for me!]

“That better not be a lie.”

[It’s true!!]

“Then, can I name you?”

[Yes, please. I want to live.]

I thought for a moment.

‘Hmm… naming it sounds tedious… I guess I don’t have a talent for naming.’

When I had to give Yu the name, it was so easy, but why is this one so tough? After a bit of grunting, I finally decided to just wing it.

“How about… Dog Poop? Yeah, let’s go with Dog Poop.”

[Dog Poop… is that a good name?]

“Uh, yeah, it’s a great name.”

[Good… I, Dog Poop, vow to never eat humans again and to live quietly outside the central plains.]

“Alright then, hurry up and leave.”

Boom!

As soon as the Toad finished speaking, it burrowed into the ground and disappeared. Of course, with my power, I could have tracked it down and killed it, but since it had promised on its name, I decided to let it be. I realized that this was the first time I hadn’t killed a Giant Toad monster.

‘How strange. Why could I suddenly communicate so well with it?’

I had a feeling that this life would be quite different from the previous ones. After that, I retrieved all the treasures, rescued General Hwang Yeon and the prisoners, and headed to Mount Huang. There, I obtained Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, Black and White Lotus, and Xuyou before going to see Zhuge Sa.

As expected, just like last time, I saw Zhuge Sa sitting in the Great Hall of Jangryeong Valley, trembling in fear.

‘This guy was an idiot who tried to ambush Zhuge Sa, only to end up beheaded by him.’

I remembered the early events of stage 27 very well. He was doomed to die. Since he betrayed them, there was no way Zhuge Sa would let him live. I ignored Zhuge Hee-ta and shouted to Zhuge Sa inside.

“Zhuge Sa! Come out for a moment! I have something to say!”

Swoosh

Zhuge Sa slowly walked out.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Baek Woong. And I’m a Reborn Person.”

” ……”

Zhuge Sa looked at me with a peculiar gaze. Then he spoke.

“You mean being a Reborn Person implies that you are a being repeating life?”

“Yeah. And I’ve already entered the 28th cycle.”

Zhuge Sa smirked.

“Heh heh heh… You must either be the world’s greatest madman or a monster.”

“Maybe I’m both?”

I replied nonchalantly to Zhuge Sa and threw him the obsidian.

“Take this if you’re suspicious.”

Thud

As Zhuge Sa caught the obsidian, I slowly said.

“I know that the heretical Demon King Simon Magus is trying to make you into an Artificial Demon and a powerful soldier in that grand war. Plus, I know many other things that seem less significant than this.”

“Hmm… This sounds interesting. Go on.”

“Alright.”

Boom!!

I transmitted my memories to Zhuge Sa. He staggered for a moment and arranged his thoughts, then soon spoke calmly.

“Baek Woong… what exactly have you done?”

“You know, I did something.”

“Heh heh heh! This is quite different from before. You seem more composed and solid now.”

With a cheerful smile, Zhuge Sa suddenly drew his long sword and casually beheaded Zhuge Hee-ta.

Clang!

“I don’t have time for playboys like this.”

I didn’t even glance at Zhuge Hee-ta’s head. It was as Zhuge Sa said; he was small fry. I calmly looked at Zhuge Sa and asked.

“Zhuge Sa. Do you feel any dark qi in my memories?”

” ……”

Zhuge Sa’s expression turned thoughtful.

“Half and half.”

“Huh, half and half?”

“There’s no strong dark qi from the 27th cycle. However, it’s not completely gone either; it feels like I’m peering into the mind of a rather high-level Demon Sorcerer. Whether a regular person would feel madness after seeing this depends on their mental strength.”

“Hmm.”

“Still, it’s a huge improvement. Originally, it was like seeing the memories of the [Old Ruler]; to have lowered it this much… To be precise, it seems the despair of humanity’s destruction has been significantly offset by the hope of the Divine Skill. To think such a thing is possible…”

Zhuge Sa muttered as he continued.

“Anyway, if this is the case, the number of companions you can recruit has increased quite a bit.”

“True.”

“Baek Woong, you probably know without me saying it, but… you have only one thing to do first, right?”

“Yeah. I know.”

I nodded firmly, my eyes shining brightly.

“I’m going to immediately train in martial arts and cast the White Lotus Sect’s Heavenly Thunder Divine Dance once again!”

There’s no need to look back anymore.

Now that I’ve reached the Absolute Realm, it’s possible.

I will seize the throne of the God of Martial Arts all at once and obtain the Divine Skill!