1167——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Slurp…

As the Primordial Void Ruler poured the drink, I accepted it without hesitation and gulped it down.

Gulp.

After taking a sip, I commented, “The swallow’s pretty smooth. Not bad liquor.”

The fiery sensation mingled with a soft touch, wiping away the usual unpleasant sting typical of fine wine, leaving behind a pleasant fragrance. I doubt I’ve had such exquisite liquor even during the time of the Great Bear Empire’s emperor.

The Primordial Void Ruler smiled brightly and replied, “I can’t skimp on the celebratory toast for the Jade Emperor. I’ve brought out the finest wine I have.”

“And what’s the name of this wine?”

“It doesn’t exactly have a name, but it’s the first wine brewed by Shennong when he descended to the material world.”

I was a bit taken aback by that. “Shennong…? How do you have such liquor?”

“The first drink he gifted was to the Primordial Heaven Master. After he vanished, I took this wine he had stored.”

“……”

As I fell silent, the Primordial Void Ruler grabbed another bottle.

“Hehe, I want to congratulate you on becoming the Wheel King, so help yourself to another glass.”

Slurp.

I silently filled my cup and took another hearty gulp.

Gulp.

“…This one’s quite a bit stronger than the last. Is it a fine wine?”

“This is the wine offered to me by the King of the Yin Dynasty. It’s called Human Head Wine.”

“……”

Offerings? Probably referring to human sacrifice, huh. My expression twisted a bit, prompting the Primordial Void Ruler to continue.

“While playing merrily with Dalki, he fermented a hundred human skulls into wine, squeezing out this liquor. It’s bound to be pretty potent. Ah! But no worries, there’s no actual poison.”

What a vile origin this wine has. I frowned and stated, “So, the celebratory toast for becoming the Jade Emperor features celestial fine wine, yet the toast for the Wheel King is some cheap stuff. Is this truly the limit of the Primordial Void Ruler?”

The Primordial Void Ruler shook his head. “Not at all. Human Head Wine is indeed a premium quality wine. I deemed it fitting for you as the Wheel King.”

“Fitting for the Wheel King? Why’s that?”

“Now that you’re the master of death, doesn’t a wine brewed from death suit you well?”

“You’re interpreting things quite freely.”

I scoffed and grabbed the neck of the bottle of Human Head Wine, extending it towards him. “Enough chatter. You better have a drink too. Let me pour you one.”

“…Alright.”

With a strange expression, the Primordial Void Ruler extended his cup, and I began pouring.

Slurp…

I filled it just to the brim, so precariously that it felt like it would spill at any moment. Watching the cup like that, the Primordial Void Ruler stared quietly while I filled my own cup and remarked, “Why aren’t you drinking?”

“You’re being quite rude here. Filling it like that isn’t proper etiquette at a drinking table.”

“I managed to pour it full with my feelings! So, you’re saying you won’t accept my feelings?”

“……”

“Don’t ignore the overflowing feelings I have.”

The Primordial Void Ruler’s expression turned incredulous, followed by hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! Well then.”

The Primordial Void Ruler downed the drink in one go. Now that we kind of exchanged cups, I said to him, “That toast is sufficient, but what about a gift?”

“……?”

The Primordial Void Ruler tilted his head. “Are you saying the toast isn’t enough?”

“If I don’t receive a gift, I can’t say I’ve been properly congratulated.”

“Hmm… what kind of gift would be good…”

“I actually want one particular gift.”

I smiled at the Primordial Void Ruler and declared, “Please don’t revive the Coming Chaos. It would be great if you could give me that gift.”

“……”

Slurp…

The Primordial Void Ruler quietly poured Shennong’s fine wine into his cup and then said, “I wanted to have some fun, but now it seems like I’m being forced back into a predetermined mold, which is rather dull.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s all within expected boundaries.”

Suddenly, the Primordial Void Ruler sighed and continued, “Do you not understand the significance of my awakening as an avatar to reclaim my true self? Do you think this is mere coincidence, Jade Emperor?”

“……?”

“Everything is a result of induced cause and effect, a butterfly effect, if you will.”

“I’m not really getting it.”

With a peculiar expression, he explained, “By making declarations and actions to awaken the Outer God within a year, it led to feelings stirring in Fuxi and Nüwa nearby. This resulted in you receiving powers and rights that weren’t originally meant for you, while you now strive to entertain me with everything you have. This is all a predetermined conclusion.”

“……!!”

“Well, I might not personally think of it that way…”

I furrowed my brow as I said, “So you’re saying you’re not the one who crafted that dastardly plan?”

“Correct. I was merely guided by the unconsciousness of that existence.”

“Don’t mess with me. You expect me to believe you came all the way here to trick me…”

The Primordial Void Ruler offered a bitter smile and replied, “It’s the truth. I am still the Primordial Void Ruler, but have simply been selected as the avatar of the Coming Chaos. While my transcendent self has descended, I’m still the Primordial Void Ruler at the same time.”

“……”

“You won’t truly comprehend. That being divides its consciousness to operate as both an avatar and a mask, and across the entire universe, only the Coming Chaos can split its self like this—so even gods can’t fathom it.”

“I really can’t wrap my head around this…”

I said, feeling irritated, “So what now? What I want to know is whether you can grant my request.”

“I cannot.”

“So you’re planning to revive whatever you mentioned after all?”

“If you keep acting like this, indeed.”

“…I’ve been talking about fun this whole time, but what does ‘fun’ even mean for you? Why do you want others to amuse you?”

At my question, his mask suddenly twisted grotesquely.

Crack!

Crack!!

With bizarre cracking sounds, it felt like the hundreds of masks covering his face twisted clockwise. Watching this, Zhuge Liang next to me looked pale, and even Fuxi seemed to frown, feeling discomfort.

The Primordial Void Ruler said, “The essence of fun is surprise. Regardless of how wise I may be, I can only find amusement in others.”

“Surprise? You mean the kind that astonishes?”

“Exactly.”

The Primordial Void Ruler clasped his hands together and laid them flat on the table, continuing, “Surprise is a common reaction among all conscious beings when facing the unknown. In other words, it’s an expansion of cause and effect, progressing towards the obliteration of the universe. Thus, the Outer God of the Coming Chaos always yearns for wonder, and that’s also its way of acting and deriving pleasure…”

“……”

“In existence, one can find joy while following the cycle, can feel fear, or can enjoy intellectual satisfaction. While not all experiences will yield purely joy, every chemical reaction gives rise to various forms of ‘fun’. That’s because every being in the cycle inherently longs for a return to the great ‘Father’, which manifests as awe…”

My head was spinning from what the Primordial Void Ruler was saying, leading me to yell, “Damn it!! I don’t understand any of it! Hurry up and finish your drink so we can proceed!”

“Uh… right.”

With a disgruntled expression, the Primordial Void Ruler drained his glass, and I immediately filled it to the brim again.

Slurp.

“No, now you’ve overflowed it again… such a rascal.”

“You used to do the same.”

“Fine then.”

As the Primordial Void Ruler filled his glass, I shouted, “Stop with the nonsense and let’s make a toast!”

“Cheers!”

Clink!

I downed the drink simultaneously with the Primordial Void Ruler.

“Ahh.”

I could have used my internal power to shake off the drunkenness, but I chose not to and let a bit of tipsiness take over. Feeling slightly flushed, I turned to the Primordial Void Ruler and said roughly, “So you’re saying my actions lack fun, and that’s why you won’t grant my favor?”

“That’s precisely it.”

“Damn you. Who do you think I am? Why should I be the one to amuse you? You’re the one who’s supposed to entertain me.”

At my words, the Primordial Void Ruler’s expression hardened as he flinched.

“I’m not your subject. I happened to clinch the Jade Emperor position by luck, but originally, you were just a mere mortal, weren’t you? Plus, I’m beyond Heaven now and have become the avatar of the Outer God…”

“And what’s that supposed to mean~.”

I retorted callously, “You’re going on about fun and amusement, but in the end, you’re just begging for attention. You do all sorts of ridiculous things to get attention because no one can stand in your way. So why try to dress it up as something grand?”

“……”

“And seriously, even if you’ve become an avatar, what’s the point? If all you can do is act out fun, no matter how powerful you are, you can’t show off that power if it can’t lead to fun actions.”

“…Even pretending to be drunk, you’ve got it all figured out. I’ll concede that.”

The Primordial Void Ruler smiled brightly and said, “I came to hear how you intend to amuse me. If you could just give me that answer, I might not awaken the essence of the Outer God.”

“What a load… just awaken it if you want.”

“……”

The Primordial Void Ruler had a surprised expression.

Boom!

In a fit of anger, I slammed the wine bottle on the table.

“I’m doing what I want! To demand I entertain you is one of the least fun things I can think of! You should be the one keeping your mouth shut!”

“…That’s true, but if I just hide away and awaken the essence of the Outer God after a year, won’t you be the only one to suffer?”

“So, you came to specially offer me an opportunity, huh? What a load of crap… you just want attention.”

“……”

I was realizing that my drunken ramblings were spilling out freely.

“What’s your problem with life? Are you thrilled that after just plotting conspiracies in the shadows of history, you suddenly become a great being? If I were you, I’d feel like crap, realizing I’m just a mask, not the real deal.”

That was something I spilled out without a second thought. However, I didn’t realize how significant that single phrase would be.

Crack!!

In that moment, the hundreds of masks cloaking the Primordial Void Ruler’s face seemed to fracture simultaneously. With a resounding noise, the masks shattered, revealing what seemed to be his true face for a fleeting moment.

Shock!

That was the expression that graced his bare visage. Suddenly, his speech changed into a divine and ethereal tone.

[To think you would restore the self I awakened as an avatar…!! Wh-What is this? Who exactly are you…?]

“Huh?”

Could it mean the personality of the Triad Primordial Void Ruler has returned?!

[Ah… aah… I knew it was the fate of the [Mask]… but it’s so painful! Even as an avatar, ultimately, I’m merely prey to that existence… What on Earth does it mean that [I] am the Primordial Void Ruler…!]

“Hey, snap out of it!!”

[No, no, listen closely. The Coming Chaos cannot break the barrier by its own strength. Master Mangnyang is not to be taken lightly, and thus you must wait for the end. He’s using you to hasten the barrier’s break…!]

Whoooosh!

At that moment, the fractures in the masks began to mend. The masks reattached themselves to surround the Primordial Void Ruler’s face, who suddenly wore an expression of suffocation.

[Ugh!! Listen closely… only I who accessed memories as an avatar can provide you with… information…]

The Primordial Void Ruler, in agony, continued, [Ah… aaa… there’s a [Constraint]… There has long been a restriction between you, the reborn, and the Coming Chaos… imposed by the reincarnated [Demon Emperor] who almost bested the Outer God…!]

“……?”

[Therefore… even if you stand before an avatar or a mask like mine, that being won’t be able to detect you… They are merely gathering clues to discover your identity… And even if the essence is revived… numerous conditions must be met to conclude your past life…!]

“……!!”

[Th-That’s merely a threat, a warning! Never give in…!!]

Thud!!

In the next moment, the masks completely enveloped the Primordial Void Ruler’s face, his movements ceased, and he sat back down with a lifeless posture.

After a moment, he regained composure and naturally smiled as he said, “That’s a lie.”

“……”

That would be a lie for sure.

‘…In an instant, the Primordial Void Ruler’s self had vanished. That proves that the avatar and the essence are never the same being. Moreover, the avatar is composed of numerous [Masks].’

I immediately realized something profound and recognized that it seemed like a crucial clue. I also had the inkling that the same tactic wouldn’t work again.

What stood before me now was the Primordial Void Ruler but not the Primordial Void Ruler. It would likely be a new personality crafted with enhanced security by the Coming Chaos. Therefore, I smirked and said to the Primordial Void Ruler, “I think that’s enough of the congratulations. Should we wrap up this drinking session?”

“Hehe, is that so? Aren’t you worried that I might have added something to the drink?”

“Not a chance. Somehow, I doubt you’re the type for that.”

“On what basis?”

“If I were after maximum amusement, wouldn’t you want to avoid directly meddling in the eye of the storm? You’d want to observe the chaos without your involvement, wouldn’t you?”

The Primordial Void Ruler did not respond to my remark but merely laughed. He then said, “I hope this lifetime brings you success.”

Boom!

The Primordial Void Ruler’s image vanished. However, the table of drinks he conjured remained, and at that moment, Fuxi, who had silently observed our conversation from the pavilion, approached us. Fuxi picked up two bottles of wine in succession, sniffed them, and said, “It’s true. This is indeed Shennong’s wine, and it is Human Head Wine.”

“Uh… there shouldn’t be any poison in it, right?”

“Why ask again after being so sure about it earlier? Hehe.”

“Just in case.”

As I scratched my head, Fuxi remarked, “It seems like Baek Woong, you are a rather special existence. I never thought a mere conversation could break through the persona defense of a [Mask]. Even I, who practice martial arts, can’t comprehend how that’s possible.”

“I’m not entirely sure either… it just kind of happened.”

“……”

Fuxi, staring blankly at the Human Head Wine for a while, eventually said, “We should return to the human realm. You shouldn’t be in the celestial realm or the underworld right now.”

“Huh? Shouldn’t we restore your powers first…? Where are we going?”

“To Luoyang’s [Battle Ground].”

With a quick wave of his hand, the table of drinks disappeared. He looked at me and continued, “We’re heading to the human realm. Compile all your abilities, connections, and intelligence to gather every bit of information on the [Battle Ground]. Even we gods know little about that barrier. However, in the human realm, that information is scattered like shards of a destroyed document. The ancient rulers that flock to Earth learned of significant details while repeatedly attempting to break through the barrier. Only by deciphering that fragmented information can you stand a chance against the coming end.”

“Hmm… that sounds like a hassle. Is that really the top priority right now? More than the duties of the Jade Emperor or the Wheel King?”

“It is.”

Fuxi nodded in agreement, “The threat from the Coming Chaos has been revealed as a bluff, but it’s not entirely empty. That being has reached a stage where it can gauge its escape, so as the end draws near, it will loom like an even greater calamity. It’s now time for you, as a reborn, to investigate what the [Battle Ground] truly is.”

Upon hearing Fuxi’s words, I immediately recognized it.

The time had come to rally all the power of the companions I have gathered.