1163——————==

Soul of the Evil God

The Resurrection of the King of Hell!

Hearing that spell, I suddenly realized that Mangnyang’s memories were coming back to life. The memories that had crossed over with the Wheel King’s power were bubbling up from deep within, one by one.

[…the contract…]

[If you master the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate to the end, a new [Fate] will emerge while practicing the forbidden spell, the chapter of the Four Seasons and Six Energies…]

[At first, I cast the Ten Kings Summoning Technique to seal the Yacha, but I didn’t know its true identity… The moment I truly understood the Ten Kings’ identities was when I reached the peak through mastering the Four Seasons and Six Energies…]

Boom!!

In that moment, memories of Mangnyang’s past floated before my eyes.

Like watching a replay, the events Mangnyang experienced in the past began to unfold right before me…

Wooo

The day Mangnyang successfully memorized the final chapter of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate.

“What is this?”

That day, Mangnyang discovered a new chapter had been added to the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate. The new chapter, appearing with a yellow light, was titled the chapter of the Four Seasons and Six Energies, and it came with a warning that everything contained within was forbidden spell.

Naturally, challenging forbidden spells as a sorcerer was akin to throwing away one’s life.

Having gained powerful sorcery comparable to the Great Immortal while mastering the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, Mangnyang didn’t want to take any more risks.

But then Mangnyang changed his mind.

Just being at the level of a Great Immortal wasn’t nearly enough to assist the reincarnated Baek Woong 500 years later against the impending end. He needed at least ten times that potential. Mangnyang felt compelled to scrape together all the possibilities contained within that forbidden spell to inform Baek Woong, so he challenged the chapter of the Forbidden Spell of the Four Seasons and Six Energies.

And several decades after mastering the chapter of the Four Seasons and Six Energies came the war with the Eight Parts of the Divine—

During that war, Mangnyang successfully sealed the Yacha using the Ten Kings Summoning spell, but he suffered life-threatening injuries. After that day, Seong Jin devoted all his efforts into healing Mangnyang, but he felt his life fading in real-time. The ‘Mark’ that the Ten Kings had branded onto him back when he summoned them was gnawing at his very soul from the bottom up.

Seong Jin said.

“I’m sorry. I can’t help you anymore.”

“The power of the Mark is too overwhelming; I simply cannot heal you.”

“It’s alright.”

“…But I truly don’t understand. No matter how powerful the curse, could it really be…”

Seong Jin gazed in horror at his own arms, which were rotting black, barely held back by the spell’s tattoos as they progressed. He would likely have to deliberately amputate the cursed parts and regenerate his arms to recover.

“Could it be that even touching that spell would cause my arms to rot…!! What in the world are those Ten Kings?”

“…”

Mangnyang couldn’t speak up because he had a hunch. He then said.

“I will fall into a comatose state thanks to my father’s help. You can let go now.”

Appearing to assist Mangnyang was his father, Zhuge Yulong. Zhuge Yulong immediately stated upon meeting Mangnyang.

“The odds are frightfully low. You already know the reason. Even if you pulled some tricks with the help of Mangnyang the Master… If the identities of the Ten Kings are as we suspect, it’s an absurd fight.”

“…Yes.”

“But we have no choice. Like you, I too will take a gamble. We may not even both survive to face Baek Woong.”

“I’m more worried about you, Father. Don’t you regret it?”

“There’s no turning back now; we’ve come too far. I intend to use the ancient seals of the ancients to aid Baek Woong against the end. After all, I’m bound for hell as well.”

Zhuge Yulong placed his hand on Mangnyang’s head and said.

“Let’s go to hell together to the very end.”

“Thank you.”

Wooo!!

The moment Zhuge Yulong unleashed his spell, Mangnyang fell into an endless comatose state. In that state, he encountered the Ten Spirits.

Koooon

The Ten Spirits were still fiercely red, formless entities, teeming with almost infinite power. In the unconscious realm of the comatose state, the Spirits slowly extended their hands and began tearing apart Mangnyang’s soul endlessly.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Mangnyang screamed. His arms and legs were torn apart like clay, and his face was gruesomely shredded into pieces. The pain of having his very soul completely dismantled! This was the consequence of casting a forbidden spell, the brand placed on him, and it became the prey to the Ten Spirits! A vicious curse suited to the final forbidden spell of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, the Ten Kings Summoning.

But even after being torn apart hundreds and thousands of times, Mangnyang’s spirit never broke, and he continued to resurrect. It was only then that sensing something strange, the Ten Spirits hesitated, and Mangnyang maintained his sanity, shouting at the Ten Spirits.

“O great beings of the ancients! Has your resentment been resolved? Will you truly be toyed with like starving wolves?”

Mangnyang extended his hand and continued speaking.

“I, Mangnyang, the direct disciple of the Master Mangnyang, command you by his power! O Great Ten Kings, be freed from the curse of the caster of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate…!!”

Kuuuuu!!

A moment later, the power of Master Mangnyang intervened in the realm of unconsciousness, engulfing the Ten Spirits. Mangnyang had requested that Master Mangnyang lend him that power, offering an ample amount of treasures and offerings that he had gathered in the Great Bear Empire as payment. In truth, Master Mangnyang was not one to be swayed by such small offerings, but he granted Mangnyang the power because of his special existence.

Boom

Moments later, the Ten Spirits regained their shape from the vague form they had once held. One of the Ten Kings, revealing its identity, spoke with surprise.

[…I never imagined you could lift the curse of Guang Chengzi that bound our Ten Kings. You have indeed received the blessing of a great being, O Contractee!]

“Are you alright now? O ancient king!”

[What do you desire? Even if we wish to repay you, we cannot return to the realm of reality. Our true bodies are sealed within the throne of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.]

“Then…”

[However, we can transfer the power of the Wheel King sealed within you.]

Woooo

The power given by the Ten Kings swirled inside Mangnyang. He sensed the essence of that power, understanding that he could unseal it over a long period of time using the Corpse Dissolution Technique.

“How could you leave this power behind?”

[Before the Wheel King was annihilated by the Emperor, he transferred this power to us. Just in case of a possible resurrection…]

“I see.”

Mangnyang then fixed his gaze on the Ten Kings and said.

“O Ten Kings. Promise me one thing.”

He spoke the next phrase, preparing for hundreds of years of arduous training.

“If the Wheel King frees you from the throne, I swear absolute loyalty to him…”

Boom

Mangnyang’s memory came to an end.

“……”

I walked dazedly towards the throne. And then I slowly sat down upon it. As I did, the jade inlaid in the throne began to emit a splendid light, shining silently, and I felt the glow of jade gradually enveloping me.

The power of the Wheel King within me began to react. The Seven Treasures, existing within my mental realm, surfaced, wrapping around the throne in a protective manner.

Then, a moment later, ten phantoms appeared before me.

Sssss…

They were ten kings, each wearing ritual garments. And their appearances were familiar to me, with the one in front kneeling before me and speaking.

[The pact with Mangnyang has been established. I, King Jin Guang, will obey the new Wheel King.]

[I, King Chogang, also will abide by the pact and serve the new Wheel King!]

[I, King Songje, also!]

Thud

Thud

Slowly, the ten great kings kneeled one by one. As I beheld this sight, tears threatened to spill forth.

“Oh… oh…”

I see now.

Unlike the Seven Treasures, the King of Hell was not originally a subordinate of the Wheel King in the primordial era but gods forced into submission. Therefore, there was no guarantee that they would return to being his subordinates even if the Wheel King was resurrected. However, Mangnyang had predicted their identities, borrowed Master Mangnyang’s power to regain their spirits, and made them submissive through a contract. Had Mangnyang not arranged this in advance, it would have been utterly impossible to resurrect the Wheel King’s power and revive the Underworld.

After a brief period of realization, I responded.

“…I accept your will. I, the Wheel King Baek Woong…”

I wiped my tears and proclaimed loudly.

“I command you, O King of Hell, to return your true names and powers, and serve as the rulers of the Underworld!”

[We obey your command!]

Boom!!

In the next moment, the kings of hell transformed into light simultaneously and flew throughout the Underworld. They had successfully completed their full resurrection!

Wooo

And from the void, I saw countless souls, numbering in the billions, rushing in. These souls seemed lost for a moment but were soon drawn by the distant call of King Jin Guang.

[Souls, the trials of the King of Hell have been resurrected; come to me, Jin Guang, to be judged! Distinguish between good and evil to attain reincarnation!]

Wooo

A massive tide of souls became the very essence of the Underworld. I finally realized how all the countless souls had vanished and how the deathly aura flooding the entirety of the Underworld now functioned as part of reincarnation. I might not fully understand, but it felt as if becoming the Wheel King had granted me insight into this expansive realm called the [Underworld].

While I sat dazedly on the throne, someone approached me.

[O great Wheel King.]

“Who are you…”

A muscular man with three eyes slowly knelt before me and spoke.

[I, King Yama, have one thing I wish to ask the Emperor before I robe myself again.]

I flinched slightly.

‘That being is the legendary King Yama…!!’

While people on Earth may not know much about the Wheel King, they certainly knew of King Yama. He was an iconic figure symbolizing hell itself, a great judge who determined good and evil! Other kings of hell may judge sins too, but King Yama was renowned for rendering judgments with unparalleled authority. The fearsome aura radiating from him far surpassed that of other kings, making me feel as if he were higher than the high-level existences of the Celestial Realm, making it impossible not to feel nervous. I steadied myself and replied.

“Please speak, King Yama.”

[It appears that you wear the garments of the Jade Emperor. Furthermore, I can sense the unique powers that belonged only to the Jade Emperor. I wish to know if you are indeed the Jade Emperor as well.]

What a sharp question!

I coolly responded to that remark.

“Yes! I am also the Jade Emperor.”

[Ooo… I see…]

King Yama trembled in surprise. Then, slowly raising his face to look at me, he said.

[I have made my decision. Once again, I shall assist the Wheel King in fighting against Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. Take this!]

Boom

King Yama threw something at me. It was a book, and I caught it in a daze. Reading the title of the book startled me.

“This, this is…”

[That is the true evidence of the King of Hell. No existence in the Three Realms can disregard the authority of the Book of Life and Death! Consider it a token of my loyalty.]

The book was titled the Book of Life and Death. I was flabbergasted, saying to King Yama.

“O King Yama! Even while you twelve kings were absent, the Yama Hall was left unattended, and Namdu and Bukdu were tampering with the Book of Life and Death, were they not?”

[That was the fake.]

“A fake?”

King Yama nodded.

[The real one has been hidden by me, sealed with the true essence of the throne. If those two jokers possess the Book of Life and Death, it is definitely a fake made by mixing in my power.]

“That can’t be…”

[In that case, I should judge them. Please wait a moment.]

Boom

King Yama suddenly vanished. After a brief pause, King Yama reappeared, leading two figures before me.

Boom

The two kneeling figures were none other than the high-level existences of the Underworld and the Great Immortal, the Immortals Namdu and Bukdu. As they were bound by dark ropes, it seemed they could do nothing but squirm helplessly, crying out.

[Ahhh!!]

[No way!! How could the vanished King Yama come back to life?! Please, release us!]

Once again, King Yama, now dressed in ritual garments, stepped forward with a solemn voice.

[You all be quiet. And bow your heads before the new Wheel King!]

[…What?!]

Namdu and Bukdu’s gazes turned to me. And seeing the Seven Treasures circling around me, the Wheel King’s throne, and the Book of Life and Death in my hands, their expressions truly looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Bukdu exclaimed in astonishment.

[The, the Wheel King has returned?! No, the, how could the Jade Emperor… the Jade Emperor’s attire be clothed upon the Wheel King…]

[Is this even possible?!]

Namdu and Bukdu looked like they were on the verge of losing their minds. Seeing those arrogant Immortals seizing up like that had me fascinated, and I just stared at them blankly. Then, after a while, King Yama fiercely tugged at the ropes and spoke to me.

[O Wheel King. What shall we do with these treasonous scoundrels who have betrayed the Underworld, serving as pawns of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen?!]

Pawns of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen!!

Could it be that those guys were on the Emperor’s side?!

Upon hearing that, Namdu said.

“O King Yama… d-did we commit such a grave error? You would never have been able to defeat the Emperor’s divine temple and the [Ruler] of the outside world!”

[Indeed, to blame our failures on you…]

Then King Yama spoke with a voice boiling up from the depths of hell.

[The Underworld has been protected by the blessing of the Creator God Pangu since time immemorial. No being can reach the residence of the Wheel King without knowing the shortcuts, and Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen was no exception. However, it was you who blabbered about those shortcuts, thus allowing the Three Sovereigns to intrude and causing our Underworld to fall.]

[W-well…]

Namdu and Bukdu were at a loss for words, and King Yama turned to me.

[O Wheel King! I ask for your permission to administer the punishment of the Eighteen Layers of Hell to these individuals.]

After a brief consideration, I nodded.

[Of course, I shall do so.]

Simultaneously, Namdu and Bukdu screamed.

[Ahhhh.]

[N-no way.]

Their divine forms were swiftly swept away into the palm of Yama like lid of a pot, disappearing. King Yama, alongside the other Kings of Hell, would execute eternal punishment upon those two Immortals.

Shortly after, King Yama spoke to me.

[O Wheel King. Having revived the Underworld, for a while, you will be defenseless. Until you restore your powers, use that Book of Life and Death. It will serve for your self-defense.]

“Hmmm. But killing mere humans won’t be enough to handle my foes…”

When I expressed my worries, King Yama seemed to question my words.

[What do you mean by that?]

After the follow-up, I flinched in surprise.

[Did you forget that with the true Book of Life and Death, the Wheel King can forcibly grant death even to gods?]