1106——————==

The Soul of the Evil God

The Resurrection of Pangu!

After a moment of thought, Fuxi responded to Qi Bai Chen’s words.

“Not really.”

[Are you serious? Pangu is the Creator God, and if he revives, your forces will become unprecedentedly massive.]

At those words, Fuxi let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused.

“Hehe. Not even worth answering. What do you know about Pangu? Better than me, who was born from his corpse?”

[What….]

“I don’t want to compete in mind techniques with a guy like you. Just tell your master to come in person.”

Swish—

Fuxi raised his fan. Then he immediately cast his divine arts.

Divine Arts

Tai Chi!

Boom!

In that instant, the space where Qi Bai Chen was engulfed in a radiant white Tai Chi, and he seemed to glow brightly, trying to break free.

[Not so easily!]

Along with his brilliance, a distortion in all time and space around him was felt, and for a brief moment, the divine power released by Qi Bai Chen was staggering, causing me to feel breathless.

“…!!”

What the heck is this strength?

I had thought Qi Bai Chen looked like a hideous monster, but the strength I sensed for that moment far surpassed even that of a typical Demon King, making me feel as if the blood had drained from my limbs.

This was no monster that a mere mortal could even think of defeating! If I didn’t have considerable spirit power, I might have burst from the distortion of time and space, just like that.

Without the Three Sovereigns, it wouldn’t be surprising if this monster could create and destroy civilizations on the surface repeatedly—that’s the kind of being Qi Bai Chen was. How could such a monster be commanded by just a single Apostle?

However, Fuxi’s Tai Chi began to press Qi Bai Chen harder and harder, even as it initially inflated with his divine power, and slowly began to shrink. Qi Bai Chen’s released divine power gradually faded, leaving only the tranquil white Tai Chi occupying that space.

Woong….

Startled by the sight, I spoke up to Fuxi.

“Can you really trap such a level of monster with divine arts? Can’t he get out?”

“It depends on the user. Even with the same divine art, the power varies greatly depending on the caster’s ability.”

Swish—

Fuxi closed his fan and continued.

“If I used it, with divine arts, I could, hmm, have no trouble dealing with what you call the Three Sovereigns. I could seal Qi Bai Chen for eternity.”

It seemed Fuxi had decided to adopt the term “Three Sovereigns” that I had mentioned.

“…What about if a human uses divine arts?”

“It would be a bit tough, wouldn’t it? Hahaha. Regardless, a god is still a god.”

“…….”

“If you reach the extremes, maybe you can manage somehow, but there are limits. That can’t be helped.”

He chuckled dryly and said.

“The reason I taught divine arts to humans wasn’t to defeat the Three Sovereigns. Gods inherently possess boundless arrogance, and if the gap is too wide, they won’t even consider listening. But if they are facing a threat, there’s a chance they’ll hear you out.”

“So, it’s abilities created for the sake of communication?”

“Something like that. Some guys say I created divine arts to build the strongest power to defeat other gods, but that’s ridiculous.”

Fuxi gazed quietly at the white Tai Chi in front of him.

“Not just that thing in front of us, but I never take ants seriously. It’s not just gods—humans are the same. Do you try to go closer and talk to an ant crawling at your feet?”

“…Not really.”

“But if that ant had wings, poison, and could bite and speak human language, your reaction would change. You’d think twice before stepping on its ant hill.”

“…….”

“I guess you could say I’m busy modifying ants to ensure their survival?”

Indeed.

Is divine arts a kind of ‘poison’ given for beings as tiny as humans in this universe…?

I countered Fuxi’s words.

“But wouldn’t I think a flying poisonous ant is threatening and try to get rid of it…?”

“Haha. That’s a valid point. That’s where I’d step in to help. As long as there’s a minimum level of self-preservation, even just a little help from me would allow you to survive in this universe.”

“Um.”

“As long as I’m helping, no human will be tragically wiped out or fall into slavery.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words at Fuxi’s confident assertion.

‘He’s unlike any other god I’ve met! There’s a pure affection and goodwill emanating from him…’

While there are gods who have goodwill towards humans, even they often find humans a bit of a bother and don’t take them seriously. But Fuxi consistently showed a pure interest in protecting humanity, and I realized that this was his genuine feeling.

I spoke with slight bewilderment.

“Why are you taking such care of humans? There are countless other races in this universe, and it wouldn’t matter to you without caring for humans…”

“…….”

“Is it because humans are the kindest race?”

I asked, feeling a flicker of hope, but Fuxi shook his head emphatically.

“No! You are not particularly a kind race. If you judge by kindness, you’d rank around the middle in the entire universe.”

“What?”

“You can’t definitively say you’re evil, but you can’t say you’re kind either. In fact, you’re slightly delinquent. Better than absolute evil, though.”

His unexpected response made my head spin.

Humans aren’t even a kind race?

“There are plenty of races kinder than you. In fact, I helped several races during my travels in this other dimension billions of years ago when I was born. It’s not that humans are the kindest, that’s for sure.”

Fuxi’s evaluation of humans was brutally honest. I felt confused and retorted.

“Th-then why?”

“…The races kinder than you have either been annihilated for being too kind or have lost the potential to develop. That’s simply due to karma. In this world, good and evil are merely one standard.”

Fuxi sighed.

“The balance of the universe is vast and intricate, which mortals can hardly imagine. There’s nothing simply defined as absolute good and absolute evil; everything has cause and effect. And being good alone doesn’t provide the strength to upset the balance of the universe.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the desire for reward for good and punishment for evil is a trait of intelligent beings, while the survival of the fittest is the nature of the universe. Kind races often outright reject the survival of the fittest, which creates inherent limits. Not even gods can escape the cycle of survival of the fittest.”

“…….”

“Order converges while chaos expands. So, I see a glimmer of possibility in you breaking that cycle. That’s a big reason right there.”

Fuxi smiled like a cat.

“You humans are such interesting creatures. You have both good and evil within you yet hardly any chaos. Yet, you are the only race that, despite lacking chaos, inherently seeks it. Typically, species possess chaos, so that’s where the tendency to follow it comes from.”

“What? Is that true?”

“Well, that’s why you’re like puppies. Born with nothing. Usually, still, a strong body or powerful magic is available to be born with, but you have so little that I had to create some arts for you.”

“…….”

Puppies, huh!

“Humans are unique in that they are both nothing and tend toward chaos while adhering to order. With nothing, yet the possibility of becoming anything. Watching you build from nothing is quite enjoyable.”

“W-well.”

I realized that while Fuxi spoke as if he were human, this conversation revealed his essence as an extraordinarily careful god. He protected humans based on his own incomprehensible criteria, and the love behind that was rooted in profound philosophical contemplation.

‘The affection the Absolute Being Fuxi shows for humans is… entirely different from the kind of affection humans have for each other. It’s not calculated, but because it’s from a god towards humans, it fundamentally diverges from the emotional comprehension of living beings.’

In that brief moment, I instinctively sensed this.

And I felt that this realization was somehow incredibly important. I suspect it might influence a significant decision in the future.

While lost in thought, Fuxi suddenly spoke up.

“By the way, Baek Woong, how did you know that the Tai Chi arts are about ‘sealing’?”

“What?”

“From the current situation, it seems you’ve assumed the Tai Chi attacked Qi Bai Chen to erase him, yet you mention sealing arts as if it’s a given. One of the major strengths of Tai Chi is that it’s hard to distinguish whether it’s for erasing or sealing.”

“…….”

Ah, crap!

Once again, I was hit right on the spot and mumbled awkwardly. Sweat began to bead on my back.

‘Damn…!! Why am I making mistakes all the time?’

Of course, I couldn’t say, “Haha. I almost died because of Tai Chi used by Tai Gong-mang, who was guarding the Peach Garden, but since Heuk Woong barely helped me escape with his own destruction, I don’t know!”

Desperately thinking, I finally spoke.

“Um… it’s just a hunch! I figured since you dislike killing, you’d prefer sealing instead of killing….”

“Oh? So you see me as too weak to be unable to kill even a single subordinate of the emperor?”

“No, it’s not like that….”

“Hahaha. As expected, you’re completely unconvincing.”

“…….”

At this point, I feel like keeping my mouth shut might be the best option.

Fuxi isn’t someone I can handle with mere words.

“It seems the time is approaching.”

Time?

Right at that moment.

[Kraaahhhh…!!]

The scream of Qi Bai Chen began to echo from within the white Tai Chi. As I looked on in shock, Fuxi said.

“Those who enter Tai Chi gradually have their divine powers decomposed until they reach a state of obliteration. True divine beings wouldn’t get obliterated, but they’ll forever have their soul separated, wandering within Tai Chi, while those of lower ranks won’t even leave a soul behind.”

“……!!”

“Now, my most loyal subordinate, Qi Bai Chen, is on the brink of obliteration in my hands. Do you think the emperor will rescue him?”

I thought keeping my mouth shut was wise, but Fuxi looked at me expectantly, so I had no choice but to respond.

“No… I don’t think so.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“If the emperor can read the whole board, he probably wouldn’t think the death of a single subordinate would significantly impact his victory… He seems like the type that wouldn’t care if a few subordinates died if it means achieving his goals.”

“…….”

“I have a feeling he would rather toss Qi Bai Chen to you, Fuxi, and move behind the scenes for a greater gain….”

Upon hearing my answer, Fuxi gazed at me with a momentary look of surprise. Then he spoke as if in astonishment.

“Fascinating. How can you grasp the emperor so well? I’m fairly certain none of the Three Sovereigns could get that far.”

“Um? Ah, no. Just… it felt that way.”

Fuxi’s demeanor shifted from earlier, where he seemed to enjoy toying with me, and his gaze now had a different thickness to it.

“You shouldn’t be able to deduce that much just from the mention of someone who can read the Law of Cause and Effect.”

“…….”

I realized that the more I spoke, the worse it got, yet I had already opened my mouth and regretted it.

‘Damn. What do you want me to do, having experienced it myself!’

I couldn’t help but think of my past encounters with Chi You or the trials of the Seven Luminaries. And I remembered how easily the emperor had tossed aside even Chi You, who had been raised personally under him, as he was hardly useful. Reflecting on such past encounters, how could one expect the emperor to spare Qi Bai Chen, a mere subordinate, when he’d tossed away someone like Chi You?

As I fell silent, Fuxi spoke up.

“Baek Woong. I might need to adjust my evaluation of you.”

“What do you mean?”

Fuxi placed his hand seriously on my shoulder.

“You’re not suspicious at all, but… you’re quite cheeky!”

“…….”

What the heck changed?!

I was dumbfounded at that moment.

Swoooosh—

Suddenly, a strange golden light settled over the Tai Chi that Qi Bai Chen had been trapped in. That golden light began wrapping the Tai Chi like a stream of water, and shortly after, it pryed the Tai Chi open from within.

Whoosh!

A white spectral form that resembled Qi Bai Chen burst out and immediately opened a dimensional door to flee. Fuxi watched that scene, murmuring.

“Hmm, looks like my expectations were mistaken. Qi Bai Chen seems to have been a far more significant subordinate than I thought.”

Roar, roar, roar—

Fuxi looked at the golden mass floating in front of him, chuckling lightly.

“Emperor.”

Sssssssss…

In a moment, the golden mass began to take shape, changing into the form of ‘some creature.’ When I saw that golden beast, which resembled something between a dragon and a qilin, my eyes widened.

“……!!”

That… that looks just like the Heavenly Demon?

The figure I had seen when Simon Magus devoured Sagong Lin!

The golden beast slowly opened its mouth towards Fuxi.

[Fuxi. Let’s make a deal regarding Pangu’s singularity.]

“Jumping straight to the point? Alright, let’s hear the deal.”

[Let me clarify first. Through this deal, I wish to establish a ceasefire between our sides.]

“I’m listening.”

After a moment, the emperor, taking the form of the golden beast, shared the remaining details of the deal.

[The one who destroys the God of All will reveal himself to your side. Let’s unite our powers to eradicate him right now. If you agree to this, I’ll use my strength to conduct the necessary ceremony ensuring Pangu’s resurrection in this world.]