1126——————==

Soul of the Evil God

The Master of Shadowless Sword initially brought in the Master of the White Lotus Sect to turn him into an ally when founding the Great Bear Empire. This was during the early days of this life, and I didn’t directly recruit the Master of Shadowless Sword. After all, there was no solid way to suppress someone of his caliber if he had a change of heart; thus, Zhuge Yulong used his wits to place the Namgung Clan under the authority of the Imperial Palace.

When I obtained the Suspicious Fishhook, I carelessly wiped out the Namgung Clan’s leader and Namgung Hwan, so it didn’t come as a challenge at all. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yulong managed to bring the Master of Shadowless Sword into the fold by visiting his hidden refuge to lay the groundwork for the resurgence of the Namgung Clan.

While I was an emperor, I often kept in touch with other companions, among whom was also the newly turned subordinate, the Master of Shadowless Sword. I couldn’t present him with obsidian, but perhaps because I explained to him that I was the one who destroyed the Namgung Clan due to their nefarious deeds, he seemed to accept me as his lord. After all, he was someone who never forgave the sins of his family. Of course, the main reason was likely that my skills at the time exceeded those of the Master of Shadowless Sword.

Then, suddenly, I got swept up in the hunt for the Sea God and went missing. The Master of Shadowless Sword dedicated himself to the Great Bear Empire, honing his skills until he became a master of the Absolute Realm. During the Western War, he fought against the Divine Avatar Arjuna, the incarnation of Krishna, and fell in battle. Originally, the Master of Shadowless Sword was supposed to die in that fight, but sorcerers like Mangnyang summoned his soul and temporarily held it, with Mangnyang employing some illicit method to send his soul to the Celestial Realm.

Knowing this sequence of events, I looked at the Master of Shadowless Sword with renewed curiosity. It’s intriguing that someone not particularly close to me among my comrades was waiting for me here.

“Master of Shadowless Sword. Where are we?”

In response to my question, he sheathed his sword and replied.

“We’re in the outskirts of the Celestial Realm, the Seven Clouds Valley. If you ascend through the Heavenly Altar, you’ll end up here.”

“The ground is entirely made of clouds.”

“I’m not exactly sure. I was told it was created by someone’s sorcery.”

“Follow me, Your Majesty.”

The Master of Shadowless Sword began walking somewhere, and I started following him in this cloud-filled secret realm. As I trailed behind, I asked him.

“I assume you’ve already heard about my return. Does everyone know I’m back?”

“Ha ha, not at all. Just a few of us are aware.”

Taken aback by the unexpected answer, I responded.

“Huh? Why not…?”

“The others have gone into the labyrinth as an exploration team, so only those currently on standby know of your arrival. That’s why I came to escort you.”

An exploration team.

Upon hearing that, I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

“So it’s true that the secret passage made by Nüwa leads to Fuxi, and it’s been transformed into a labyrinth.”

Presently, all the supreme masters of the Great Bear Empire have been brought to the Celestial Realm by Mangnyang. They were currently exploring Fuxi through the secret passage created in ancient times by Nüwa and the Queen Mother of the West, a search that has been ongoing for centuries. According to the records in the Cheon Woo-jin, the secret passage resembles a labyrinth, and one must reach the very end to discover the road to Fuxi. Furthermore, as this wouldn’t be an expedition finished in just a day or two, the exploration team had separate waiting personnel for cross-deployment.

The Master of Shadowless Sword replied to me.

“Now that you’ve returned, Your Majesty, everyone feels reassured. It’s been quite tough up to now.”

“You mentioned ‘labyrinth’—what exactly is it? Mangnyang only briefly noted the exploration status, so I’m unaware of the detailed internal situation.”

For some reason, Mangnyang only vaguely entered brief progress records into the Cheon Woo-jin without detailing the internal exploration logs. Probably, as a great immortal of the Celestial Realm, Mengnyang lacked the causality to frequently travel to the surface. After a moment’s thought, the Master of Shadowless Sword responded.

“…It’s like a place resembling someone’s dream.”

“Really?”

“You’ll understand when you enter. Each entry is different, so I wouldn’t dare describe it with mere words.”

After what felt like quite a while walking, had we finally exited the Seven Clouds Valley? The scene around us gradually revealed the ethereal mountains of the spiritual realm, draped in clouds, with various celestial beings visible here and there, causing me to gasp in astonishment.

“Whoa.”

Wha-what is that? They look so bizarre?!

This bewilderment felt rather distinct from the horrors presented by otherworldly races. These celestial beings had an appearance completely alien to human civilization, with many looking like something out of a surreal dream. Sure, there were many who looked fully human, but quite a few were mysteriously shaped—difficult to describe.

The sight was a dreamlike spectacle that exceeded my imagination… Calling them monsters would be a reach; “otherworldly beings” seemed more fitting. It was a profoundly distant appearance that invoked a fundamental rejection in human sentiment. They seemed more like otherworldly entities from light-years away.

‘Yeah. They somewhat resemble the Amatsukami I saw on Venus…’

I didn’t expect to behold such a scene in the Celestial Realm.

As I marveled, the Master of Shadowless Sword chuckled softly.

“Surprised?”

“Why do all those celestial beings look so… non-human?”

“I overheard while passing by, but as the dimensional gap between the Celestial Realm and the human world has grown wider, the Celestial beings felt less need to resemble humans anymore. I’ve been told they’ve started mimicking forms from realms closer to the human domain, like the Phantom Realm or Blood Realm.”

“……”

“It seems it’s not much of a concern how the celestial beings appear. They occasionally provide sorcerous support when exploring the labyrinth, but seem intent on keeping their distance from us.”

“Mm…”

After all, celestial beings could be considered spiritual entities. Was it odd for such spiritual forms to intentionally take on human shapes? Nevertheless, I had certain preconceived notions about the divine beings in the Celestial Realm, and having those shattered felt strange.

‘Conversely… when the human world and the Celestial Realm were closer, celestial beings needed to maintain forms resembling humans.’

What kind of significance did that fact hold?

While I pondered, the Master of Shadowless Sword suddenly spoke up.

“Your Majesty. Since coming to the Celestial Realm, I’ve been wondering… may I ask you something?”

“No need to be overly formal. What are you curious about?”

The Master of Shadowless Sword smiled slyly.

“Do you enjoy fighting?”

“……?”

Huh?

His question caught me completely off guard, and my eyes widened. I had expected him to ask whether I would punish the converts of the Namgung Clan for their past sins, not this surprising query. So, I expressed my thoughts as they arose.

“I do enjoy it, but why?”

“It’s nothing serious. I was just curious because it seems you really like martial arts.”

“I thought you’d bring up the massacre of the Namgung Clan.”

The Master of Shadowless Sword shrugged.

“I’ve already let go of those stories from my previous life. You said you’d deal with the bad guys; all those kinds of folks slipped my mind.”

He seemed genuine in that statement.

‘Maybe it was me who was stuck in the past…’

The Master of Shadowless Sword really does seem like a pure martial artist. I felt a desire to provoke him, so I exaggeratedly said, “Well, to that extent, I was just thinking of cutting off Namgung Hwan’s limbs and then taking his head in front of his father.”

“Do as you will. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to turn him into a shish kebab with one strike from now on.”

“Hmm.”

I meant to test him and be a bit mischievous, but it fell flat.

‘He gave back with interest.’

Feeling silly for my childish antics, I scratched my head while the Master of Shadowless Sword continued.

“Since I ascended to the Celestial Realm, I’ve fought endlessly in labyrinth explorations to hone my skills. Honestly, this feels like the life I wanted. I’m always grateful to you, Your Majesty. But…”

“But?”

“If you’re not enjoying it, yet fighting endlessly against the gods, it seems tragic.”

I retorted bluntly, “Do you have any idea how hard I worked to become someone who enjoys it? But enjoyment is only for those with talent. I’m just flailing about.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean. I’m a genius, after all.”

“……”

Ah, right. The Master of Shadowless Sword was a swordplay genius! Without genius, one couldn’t even bear the title of the best expert in the Central Plains, could they?

“Eh…”

He got beaten up by Yeodong-bin!

I wanted to argue back in a childish manner, but since it was about past lives, I couldn’t retort in this life.

At a loss for words, I chewed my lip, causing the Master of Shadowless Sword to burst into laughter.

“Bwahaha… Your Majesty, you’re still the same. Just as I remember.”

“I crossed time, so of course! You’ve become an absolute being after decades of cultivation, and I expect you’ve grown stronger than I am now.”

“Not particularly. However, I certainly have many things to teach you about exploring the labyrinth.”

“I’m looking forward to it. So, where are we headed now?”

“Hyunheogung.”

As expected.

I thought that’s where we’d be heading, confirmed by the Master of Shadowless Sword’s answer.

Rumble

Finally, we arrived before the grand Taoist palace, and the enormous wooden doors slowly began to open automatically. The towering deities with ox and horse heads on either side bowed their heads, granting us passage.

Crossing through the inner gates of Hyunheogung, a voice I longed to hear greeted me.

“You’ve arrived.”

The very moment I heard that voice, my whole body shook with exhilaration.

How long had it been since I last heard it?

I looked towards the innermost part of the palace, where an immortal sat cross-legged on a couch.

“Mangnyang…!!”

Mangnyang answered without a hint of expression when I called out.

“Come and sit here.”

“Of course.”

I sat opposite Mangnyang, with the Master of Shadowless Sword standing beside me. Facing Mangnyang, he looked just like he did in his youth, with only the difference of wearing a pure white and dignified robe. Moreover, from the immense spirit energy accumulated over the years, it was evident that he now emanated the aura of a great immortal.

Mangnyang began to speak.

“I’ve heard the news from the surface well. Our first order of business is to meet the Queen Mother of the West to rescue Daji, who has merged with Miho. Afterward, you’ll be assigned to assist the exploration team in finding Fuxi.”

“Indeed, Mangnyang. But how have you fared during this time?”

“……”

Mangnyang’s expression turned dark for a brief moment. Though it was a fleeting look, I felt as if it was the first time in ages I’d seen such an expression on him. But soon, he returned to his usual impassive demeanor as he replied.

“I’ve been the same as ever…”

Huh? That was an odd response…

Mangnyang continued.

“The exploration team is currently tackling the 76th floor of the labyrinth. Given the uncertainty of when the team will return, I can’t guarantee when we can enter the labyrinth.”

“76th floor? Is the labyrinth some kind of tower?”

“From our explorations over the years, we’ve deduced that the labyrinth is made up of three sections. The first section involves reaching the exit by traversing an endless sea dotted with islands, while the second section is an adventure through the chambers of trials. Now, the final section is a quest to scale a tower—our target is the 99th floor.”

“……?”

What did you say?

I gasped at that statement.

“Is it that complicated? It has a staggering scale…!!”

“…It’s probably because it’s not a mere secret passage or otherworldly realm. The Queen Mother of the West doesn’t elaborate, but the place we’re exploring is likely fragments of the ‘Primordial Dream.’”

“‘Primordial Dream’?”

“A realm that changes like a dream, seemingly testing humans at every turn. That is the trial to meet Fuxi. To reach the dream’s overseer, one must be recognized. We’ve challenged this dream for a very long time, yet the sovereign of this dream continues to test us.”

After offering some intricate explanations, Mangnyang continued.

“Regardless, since the Sword Demon has yet to return, we cannot integrate you into the exploration team at this time. Thus, let us fulfill the primary purpose of your presence here first.”

“Can I see the Queen Mother of the West?”

Mangnyang nodded.

“Let’s go pay our respects to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens. We will need her presence to break the Queen Mother of the West’s barrier.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Before that, though…”

Mangnyang suddenly extended his hand toward me. As I looked at him in confusion, he asked, “Can you show me the Moon Sovereign?”

“Ah!”

I pulled out the Moon Sovereign I’d tucked away for so long to show him. Mangnyang examined the Moon Sovereign thoughtfully.

“Originally, the Moon Sovereign and the Seven Luminaries contained misfortune… After the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors perished, the world’s causality became twisted. Even if you hadn’t crossed time, it would have been difficult to wield it here.”

“……”

“Your ability to awaken the spirit of the Seven Luminaries without issue also signifies that someone’s intentions have drawn closer as the end times near.”

Speaking incomprehensible words, Mangnyang continued.

“When the time comes, it would be wise to awaken the spirit of the Moon Sovereign.”

“I plan to do so.”

“Then let us proceed.”

I followed the Master of Shadowless Sword and Mangnyang out of Hyunheogung. After a while, we reached the mountain where the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens dwelled. When Mangnyang uttered a certain spell, she was summoned before us.

Boom!

Mangnyang bowed his head.

“I, Mangnyang of Hyunheogung, pay my respects to the supreme being of the Celestial Realm, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens.”

[Mangnyang. Raise your head.]

I realized with surprise that the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens appeared significantly different from her previous self.

‘She feels incredibly less impactful…’

The Heavenly Mysterious Woman I had seen before was a divine being radiating fearsome power, but somehow, she now seemed far more subdued. While I couldn’t articulate it precisely, I suspected her power had diminished.

[It indeed was true that you crossed time…]

The Heavenly Mysterious Woman stared at me, then continued,

[Very well then. Let us meet the Queen Mother of the West.]

“Ah, before that, I’d like to summon Miho. Is that alright?”

[It’s fine.]

In response, I pulled out the jade piece given to me by Miho, and as I infused it with spirit energy, a divine light erupted before the jade disintegrated, unveiling Miho before my eyes.

Boom!

The summoned Miho appeared to glance around. Upon seeing the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, she bowed her head.

[Heavenly Mysterious Woman. We’ve come to meet the Queen Mother of the West.]

[Proceed as such.]

The meeting seemed to go surprisingly smoothly. Perhaps there was no reason for friction?

[Allow me to guide you to the Queen Mother of the West’s palace.]

With our growing entourage, I headed toward the palace of the Queen Mother of the West. As the Heavenly Mysterious Woman at the front reached out her hand and touched the transparent barrier at the palace’s entrance, a resonating sound filled the area.

[Leave!!]

A strong expression of rejection!

Clearly, it was the voice of the Queen Mother of the West, causing everyone to hesitate. The Heavenly Mysterious Woman glanced at me, appearing troubled.

[Baek Woong. The Queen Mother of the West is angry. While we could force an audience with her now, a battle may ensue.]

“Why is she angry?”

[I’m not sure.]

Then again, I had an inkling.

The Queen Mother of the West likely sensed the instant Miho was summoned into this Celestial Realm.

And she clearly did not wish to meet Miho.

However, I couldn’t let that happen.

‘If I give up, it’ll be a loss too great to bear.’

If I concede now, I’d miss the chance to obtain Miho’s aid throughout my next life, and I would never be able to make her my companion. I had to push forward, even risking death.

I gritted my teeth and said to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, “I will not turn back. Let’s settle this with the Queen Mother of the West today, no matter what.”

[But….]

“Please assist me. If you help me actively, I promise to aid in maintaining the Celestial Realm through the power of the Moon Sovereign.”

After thinking for a moment, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman nodded.

[That’s a good proposal. Then, I will open the door.]

Creak…

As the barrier gradually lifted, I steeled myself.

‘Let’s go.’

Today, I’ll settle things with the Queen Mother of the West!

After I entered the palace of the Queen Mother of the West, I found many blue-robed handmaidens prostrating inside. Although these maidens took human form, they were actually known as Celestial Birds, beings that were part human and part fox. They all suddenly exclaimed in unison.

“Please turn back!”

“Your master is enraged!”

“If you do not leave, everything will be torn to shreds!”

Their voices brimmed with an unmistakable fear, making it clear just how much reverence and terror the Celestial Birds held for the Queen Mother of the West.

“Make way.”

Despite this, we strode forward without flinching, and the Celestial Birds, unable to obstruct us, could only maintain their prostration.

Crackle!

Moments later, I heard the sound of liquid spilling from behind us. Glancing back, I noticed all the Celestial Birds had simultaneously had their heads severed, their decapitated bodies rolling on the ground.

‘Is this the work of the Queen Mother of the West…?’

It seemed that having failed to block us, she had ordered their execution as punishment. I grimaced at the Queen Mother’s cruelty, reigniting my fighting spirit.

Eventually, we entered the palace’s inner sanctum.

Creeeak…

Atop the throne sat the Queen Mother of the West, her expression livid. She grasped the throne’s armrest so tightly that her veins prominently bulged. The Queen Mother spoke with fierce intensity.

[Heavenly Mysterious Woman… Surely, when I granted you dominion over the Celestial Realm, I warned you not to meddle with her any further!]

In response, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman replied quietly.

[Queen Mother of the West, why are you so enraged? Has our visit disturbed your mood?]

[Absolutely…]

The Queen Mother turned her gaze towards Miho and shouted.

[That insignificant tail, having detached itself from my servant, dares to show itself before me despite committing taboos!!]

Boom!

The Queen Mother’s overwhelming malice reverberated through the heavens like thunder, shaking the palace itself, and the ensuing energy wave inflicted real harm upon all of us.

‘Ugh.’

I could never withstand that pressure. Activating my Protection Energy Technique, I felt a bit better, yet the Heavenly Mysterious Woman used her power to shield us from the Queen Mother’s malice.

Just then, Miho slowly stepped forward.

In that moment where Miho and the Queen Mother faced each other—just a mere ten paces separated them—Miho suddenly addressed the Queen Mother.

[I have always thought of you as my mother.]

[…….]

[Regardless of whether you’re a great being or not, my origin and progenitor remain unchanged. Even now, I hold great respect for you….]

[You respect me?]

The Queen Mother scoffed.

[Then take your leave and sever your own neck at once! If you do, I shall forgive you, pitiful tail!]

Miho responded nonchalantly.

[No, thank you.]

[What?]

Creeeak…

Suddenly, Miho’s form, half-human and half-fox, began to grow enormous. Before long, she transformed into a being resembling Daji and exclaimed.

[Behold my current form, Queen Mother of the West!]

Boom!

Upon finishing her words, Miho’s entire being shimmered with a golden light, and her tails reduced to two. Transformed into a golden fox the size of a human, Miho exuded divinity as she spoke.

[What was your intent in sending me down to the human realm? Regardless of your plans, I have already left your embrace.]

[…….]

[Please recognize me as the successor of the Three Sovereigns. That is my request.]

[That’s utterly preposterous!]

The Queen Mother, filled with murderous intent, crushed the throne’s armrest.

[As long as I live, I will never acknowledge you.]

[Is that so?]

With that, Miho swelled in size and gleamed with bloodlust in her eyes.

[Then I shall earn my recognition through battle.]

[What?]

[Even if you are the Queen Mother of the West, you’re not Nüwa. Should I kill you, won’t the throne of the Avatar remain vacant?]

[Ha ha ha.]

The Queen Mother burst into a maniacal laugh at Miho’s words.

Creeeak…

The Queen Mother began changing as well. She transformed into the frightening form of a magical beast that even the Old Ruler could vanquish in one blow with immense power. Once the Queen Mother fully morphed into the beast, she declared,

[Perfect timing…. I will devour you and replenish my strength!]

[It won’t be that easy.]

[That is for me to decide.]

Can we really avoid this fight?

I felt bitter as that thought crossed my mind.

‘We don’t have to follow Dracula’s whims; the events are flowing this way anyway…’

Right. Given the situation, the only option is to aid Miho and gang up on the Queen Mother of the West.

‘Let’s put our lives on the line here.’

Just then, as I was bracing myself for what was to come—

Flash!!

Suddenly, time stopped. As the shocking turn of events unfolded, I looked around in disbelief, finding every being except me frozen in place. Even the Queen Mother, Miho, and the Heavenly Mysterious Woman were immobilized, leaving me in shock.

“……?!”

Everyone gathered here is a significant entity, and to freeze them—who would have this power?

Moreover, with beings as esteemed as the Queen Mother of the West, Miho, and the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, it seemed utterly unfathomable. As I was still processing this, something slowly materialized before me like an apparition.

[…I left you alone for far too long….]

In a soft voice, an ethereal figure materialized ten steps from me. My eyes widened in recognition.

‘Nüwa?!’

It was the true form of Nüwa, not the Queen Mother of the West! As I stood in surprise, the apparition of Nüwa gazed at me and spoke.

[The masterpiece crafted from starlight… an avatar and a manifestation… even when I withdrew from the world to seek refuge, I still identified my will with my being… and now, you have been trapped in illusion….]

“…….”

[Creating a too powerful avatar can lead to such events….]

As Nüwa spoke, she extended her hand.

Swoosh!!

In a shocking turn of events, the Queen Mother of the West was pulled into Nüwa’s grasp, vanishing without a trace!

“……?!”

Wha-what just happened?

Wasn’t the Queen Mother of the West Nüwa?!

What is happening…

While I was flustered, the apparition of Nüwa gradually faded, leaving behind words.

[…The one who moves the cycles… amidst inconceivable chaos.]

“…….”

[You have interfered with the [Dream] of the universe… invoking changes in Nüwa’s will….]

“…….”

[Originally, Nüwa would not have intervened with the Queen Mother’s actions…. You would have faced total annihilation or suffered enormous damage, yet Nüwa chose not to. This is due to the tiny yet monumental change in causality you have created—an outcome the Emperor could not foresee amid the chaos.]

What on Earth does that mean?

[If you wish for recognition, come to the true hidden place of Nüwa.]

Nüwa’s final words resonated.

[Fuxi resides where Nüwa’s essence is also hidden….]

Boom!

Moments after, time resumed. Everyone, except me, awakened from their stasis, bewildered by the sudden disappearance of the Queen Mother of the West.

“Wait?!”

“What in the world…?”

[What just happened? The Queen Mother… is gone?]

[It doesn’t seem like she fled.]

I remained silence, watching their astonished faces.

“……”

Thoughts from Asura drifted into my mind.

[Before you entered the Land and Earth Diagram, there was an immense flow gripping this world like an iron fist. Neither I nor the Cheon Woo-jin could resist this flow and simply waited for you. But it’s felt like a crack has formed in that flow after you went through the Land and Earth Diagram.]

Such an immense flow…

As I sensed it, a chill ran down my spine.

‘What’s happening somewhere that I’m unaware of? Has the situation in the Land and Earth Diagram affected the outside world?’

What is going on?

But one thing is certain.

I must break through in this Celestial Realm and reach the place where Fuxi resides.

I bet the real Nüwa is there as well.

“`

 

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