어떻게 된 것인가 –

Unexpected manifestation of the martial arts technique. Amidst the chaos, a corner of my mind was surprisingly calm, and I realized that my heart was filled with something. I didn’t know what was happening, but I was clear about what I needed to do now.

‘Let’s gather the Qi.’

I didn’t know why, but it felt like a top priority. Without any hesitation, I opened my entire body’s vital energy below the sea and began to accept pure Qi. The intangible energy flowed through my pores and suddenly started rotating after it reached my meridians.

Whooooosh

It felt like a microcosm was opening. I experienced this sensation of my crown cracking open as energy pierced through my body in a straight line. At the same time, I could tell that the Qi I had just completely depleted was instantly recharged. This wasn’t just a forced intake of energy through the arms of magical power.

If I had to compare it, it felt like till now I was scooping water from a well into a vessel, but now, the vessel itself was submerged in a vast ocean. Even the idea of scooping this water seemed unnecessary. I was immersed in this ecstatic sense of unity and continued to rapidly expand the vital energy of my body with the Qi that was continuously pouring in.

Crack!

Crack!

A phenomenon of my body changing occurred. I could feel that my body was adapting and transforming amidst this overwhelming unity. My soul felt like it was half-floating, observing the changes happening to my body.

My muscles and bones twisted to the extent that they became visible, protruding outward, my skin pulled taut, and veins rose around my body, transforming me into a blood figure. The structure of my body was altogether changing as both my cheekbones and the recess of my chest dramatically distorted.

Kujiyu!!

‘Is this… really possible?’

I had possessed tremendous energy before, but I was confused because I couldn’t comprehend what was happening now. No matter how great the energy, it shouldn’t have been able to physically alter my body. There are limits to the life force of the body, and fundamentally, it shouldn’t have been possible. Yet, what was happening now was undoubtedly –

‘Rebirth of Flesh!!’

No doubt about it!

While I was in shock, my skin began to melt as if boiling, expelling fat into the seawater. At the same time, the tremendous changes happening to my body reached their climax, and moments later, all my vital energy burst open, revealing a massive amount of energy far beyond what I had before.

GooOOO

” ……”

Light began to radiate from my forehead, feeling intense. It felt as though a shining gem was embedded there; this must have been the form of the Truth Seal, which those who have attained Rebirth of Flesh experience for a time.

‘Is this even possible…?’

Is it true that after desiring it so much and never being able to attain Rebirth of Flesh until now, it finally happened in this otherworldly realm?! I was dazed, but at the same time realized that in terms of my body’s condition, I was not at all inferior to my original form. Until now, just using martial arts once or twice would drain my vital energy completely, but now I had developed a ‘vessel’ that would allow me to use martial arts almost permanently without issue.

And along with that vessel, another ‘center’ had formed. The moment I sensed it, an uncontainable feeling of exhilaration swept through my body.

Shoooosh!!

As soon as I completed the Rebirth of Flesh, I burst out of the seawater. At the same time, I saw the transformed form of the Divine Thief slowly unraveling like dark clouds, and the giant body of Tezcatlipoca twisting up in the sky, creating a massive storm.

Kujiyu!! Kujiyu!!

[Ahhhhhhhh!! How dare you…!!]

Tezcatlipoca seemed furious. A huge hole was drilled through his head, penetrating down to the jaw, droplets of azure blood falling from him. A fearsome magical power was spilling dark clouds, heralding calamity.

‘Did I hit him hard?’

It was undoubtedly due to my attack, but I couldn’t believe it.

To actually inflict a proper blow on the [Old Ruler] with martial arts!

That sight was certainly not just a little itchy from being bitten by an ant. If he hadn’t taken a significant hit, he wouldn’t be this furious. This meant I had successfully dealt a near-fatal blow to the physical body of the [Old Ruler], which was something I had never witnessed throughout my past lives. No expert had ever been able to counter the [Old Ruler] successfully.

‘Could it be… I…!!’

Just then, while I stood dumbfounded on the water’s surface, the voice of Dharma reached my ears.

[Bae Woong…]

[Dharma Master!]

[Wonderful. I never expected the power of an Apostle would take us this far.]

Kujiyu

The dark sun began to rise over the horizon. Tezcatlipoca’s curse was overflowing as he was casting tremendous magic, and the very laws were changing. With the power of Tezcatlipoca summoning the dark sun, the world fell under darkness, and moments later, he yelled in anger.

[As the Sun God, I command, let the power of darkness bring eternal night to this world! I shall bring ruin!]

WHOOSH!!

Moments later, as Tezcatlipoca roared, the entire world filled with pitch-black night. I was astonished at the sight.

“No!”

Was something monumental about to happen?

As I gasped in shock, I heard Dharma Master’s voice again.

[It’s a spell that will destroy the world.]

[He’s going to destroy the world with just one spell?!]

[If it’s the power of the King of Obsidian, it should be easy… If that spell goes unchecked, within half a moon, the world will be consumed by the dark sun and vanish like the dew of the universe.]

[……!!]

Having seen Pangu cast a spell in the celestial realm, it didn’t seem strange. But it was a grand ritual requiring thousands of immortals to chant for a long time; the [Old Ruler] could do it with just one spell. It was clear that he was a true god.

[Of course… that’s only if I let it happen.]

Hu Woong

I felt Dharma Master slowly extending his right hand. Seeing that, I understood.

‘Originally, the Sea God was grasped in that hand…’

That hand was now empty. That meant only one thing.

‘He killed it!’

During the time he bought us, Dharma had succeeded in killing the Sea God!

As I felt a strange joy, I watched as a massive black hand materialized from the void, slowly gripping Tezcatlipoca’s body.

Crack!!

[Urrrrgh….]

Tezcatlipoca, held in the center of his body, let out a strange sound. In that sound lay the grievance of never having dreamed he would be caught. Dharma Master spoke.

[You have been too greedy.]

[Release this hand, O Ruler born of mortals! If you do so, I will recognize you as the lord of this world and let you go.]

[… Is that so? I didn’t particularly plan to become a lord…]

[So, you’re just playing around with it? I won’t oppose that.]

[No.]

I sensed Dharma Master’s eyes gleaming with intensity.

[Before I let this universe be destroyed, I cannot allow anyone else to bring about its end… Absolutely!]

[W-What are you saying…!]

BANG!

BANG!

[Kuuaaaah!!]

The god lamented. Normally, gods wouldn’t feel pain, but the attack was infringing upon his essence, so he felt a sense of crisis. Dharma’s black hands tightened around Tezcatlipoca with tremendous strength, and the winged serpent flapped violently before suddenly breaking with a cracking sound, stretching out.

While I witnessed the divine killing unfold before my eyes, Dharma Master spoke to me.

[Bae Woong… get ready.]

[Yeah!]

Dharma shouted with a strong will.

[I haven’t completely annihilated his corporeal form; I’ve just brought him to the brink of death… It was made possible thanks to you diminishing Tezcatlipoca with such a heavy blow. Seize the chance to steal away as his soul tries to escape!]

That was Dharma’s hidden agenda. It was our initial plan from the beginning.

‘If I can obtain the soul of a ruler much higher than the Sea God, it would be extremely advantageous!’

Understanding the situation, I asked.

[Did you just kill the Sea God outright?]

[I just sealed him temporarily… the Divine Thief will handle that.]

Dharma continued.

[You… must succeed. If we have his soul, we truly won’t need to sacrifice a million lives. If either of you succeeds!]

[Got it!]

Tap!!

I headed towards the head of Tezcatlipoca, currently held up in midair. As I unleashed the Soul Exchange Technique, I compressed dozens of miles in the blink of an eye. When I reached the top of the serpent’s head as before, Tezcatlipoca was half-closed-eyed and dying.

I locked eyes with Tezcatlipoca. The Sun God and Great Being, Tezcatlipoca spoke to me within my mind.

[Mortal… you’re up to something unusual…]

I nodded and responded to Tezcatlipoca.

“God, when your death arrives, I will seize your soul!”

[… I see… you are quite bold… No one has ever attempted to claim the soul of a god in the history of the universe… not even the races of the supergalaxy…]

Tezcatlipoca smiled faintly moments later.

[Heh… give it a try… that might be entertaining…]

“Are you not resentful for making you meet death?”

[… I can’t say… It hurt a bit earlier, but I don’t particularly think about it.]

“Uncertain?”

[For hundreds of millions… or even billions of years… I have always existed as a complete being from birth, merging with the other half of my soul and growing even stronger… There has never been dissatisfaction or provocation… Therefore, now I find it entertaining…]

His voice exuded an overwhelming sense of apathy, something mortals could hardly fathom.

“……”

To discuss mere entertainment with true divine death looming before him.

Once again, gods’ mental worlds were incomprehensible. As I stood there aghast, Tezcatlipoca said.

[Before that… I shall bestow upon you a blessing… Mortal, I commend your great abilities.]

“… A blessing? Even though I’m going to take your soul and erase it, you’re saying that?”

[Even in demise, everything in existence is at your whim… Is that not the essence of [Ruler]?]

Tezcatlipoca replied calmly, and slowly raised his head. Then he opened his mouth and began to regurgitate something.

Chuaaaak

What emerged from Tezcatlipoca was a colossal gem. A gem the size of a human stood floating with magical power, approaching me, and eventually compressed into the form of a necklace that hung around my neck.

As I looked at the black necklace, Tezcatlipoca spoke.

[This necklace is the blessing I give you as the Black Sun God and [King of Obsidian]… it was originally a gift from the Ruler of the Moon, presented to me with all kinds of flowery phrases… but I’ll simply give it to you…]

“What kind of blessing is this obsidian necklace?”

[That is…]

Tezcatlipoca poured a vast amount of knowledge into my mind in an instant. As the overwhelming knowledge flooded in, I staggered and understood the powers of the obsidian necklace. I frowned and said.

“… You could have just said it.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand such a cruel transfer of knowledge. However, I was different now. With a strong foundation, I could endure this much without any problem.

[Well… from my insights and foresight, it seems… you will soon have a falling out with your companion… consider it my consideration…]

“……?”

[Then… bid farewell to my death.]

The serpent closed its eyes.

Sssss

And I felt rapidly as his body turned gray, hardening into stone. Realizing he was meeting a complete death, I concentrated all my spirit.

‘Here we go!’

The moment a god meets death in the material realm and his soul flies off to a distant dimension!

If I couldn’t catch that moment, Dharma’s plan would fail, and I would face immense obstacles, making the gathering of Qi a distant dream. Everything depended on stealing the divine soul now.

How could one perceive the soul of a god?

I realized that the answer was straightforward. With my rebirthed body, I spread my arms wide and gathered the vision’s martial arts in my palms. While chanting the spell and focusing my spirit, I finally began to sense the vast realm of the divine soul.

Whoooosh

” … Here we go.”

Soul Exchange Technique!

If I could steal the soul of a god, this was my only method right now!

Crackle

With the sensation of lightning surging in my mind, I sensed every soul within a radius of several miles, feeling life as a flickering flame. After achieving Rebirth of Flesh, my Soul Exchange Technique’s senses felt exponentially enhanced. From that clear world of the soul, I distinctly sensed the soul of Tezcatlipoca beneath my feet.

“……!!”

Tremendously… massive.

Bigger than a continent!

It was enormous, yet the quality of that soul was horrifically compacted. Compared to an ordinary soul, it was like comparing soft tofu to diamond – the disparity was monumental. The soul was so extraordinarily compressed that it could easily cover this continent!

‘The power contained within the soul of the [Old Ruler]… was no exaggeration, being countless times that of a Great Demon or Great Immortal.’

Given such a being, it made sense that it could command cosmic power. Simultaneously, I realized how impossible my dreams were of opposing such a being. It wasn’t just one or two; there were hundreds or thousands of those scattered across the globe, could I really defeat them?

I had to steal this.

“……”

How to steal it?

Even trying to steal it, I had no ‘pocket’ to contain it.

Initially, I planned to absorb the god’s soul with the arms of magical power and transmit it to Dharma, but its size was too disproportionate. It was like a regular person trying to move the Mountain Range of Tai with one hand. No matter how much of an Apostle’s arm it was, it would explode in transmission.

That was when an idea struck.

“Got it!”

I gritted my teeth, realizing that this was the only way!

And the next moment, I unfolded the Technique of All Things and extended my hand towards the god’s soul with the Soul Exchange Technique.