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“The Soul of the Evil God”

Where I appeared with the light was a place I had seen before.

The palace of the Giant Race!

This was where I had met Shennong following Fuxi in the Land and Earth Diagram. Sure, since the Land and Earth Diagram is the Dream World, I hadn’t technically been there in reality, but according to Fuxi, it didn’t seem to matter much.

However, the atmosphere felt drastically different from what I remembered. Previously, it had exuded an aura of immense myth, an intimidating domain beyond human reach, but now every column in the palace appeared decayed and crumbling, with not a single giant in sight. This deserted palace could well have been classified as a ruin, and both Seo Mun-hye and I felt like we were just wandering through rubble.

After a short walk, we entered and found Shennong waiting for us on the throne.

[You have come.]

Shennong didn’t look like his true self. Clad like an ancient king adorned with ritual attire, I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

‘This is the main dimension of the Giant Race. The highest divine status doesn’t require Shennong to disguise himself. So why that avatar?’

I set aside my doubts and bowed my head to show respect to Shennong.

“I am honored to meet the great Shennong.”

As I lowered my head even further, Shennong waved his hand.

[That’s enough. You are the King of the Three Realms; there’s no need for excessive formality.]

“Ah….”

[I don’t know about the Jade Emperor, but if you have the strength of the Wheel King, you deserve to be honored as a fellow king.]

It seems Shennong held the Wheel King in higher regard than the Jade Emperor. I could guess the reason behind it, so I didn’t pry and instead stated,

“Please let me know why you summoned me, and I will listen closely.”

[…….]

Shennong gazed at me intently before continuing.

[I have something to tell you and a proposal to make.]

“What is it?”

Shennong’s gaze shifted to Seo Mun-hye, who stood beside me.

[First of all, that child’s existence is part of my plan that started at the dawn of time and is the last will of Chi You.]

“……?!”

Wha-what did you say?!

His unexpected words hit me like a ton of bricks. But maybe because I had been shocked so many times before, I quickly regained my composure and replied,

“Please elaborate.”

[The phenomenon known as reverse reincarnation occurs extremely rarely as part of the universe’s principles, but the fact that the bloodline of the Giant Race remains in the material world is simply impossible. This is because we are one of the top-tier races in the universe, and if any of our blood were to survive and pass on, it would mix up all balances and the law of cause and effect on the ground.]

“Hmm….”

[Therefore, after the defeat in the Takrok War, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen sealed Chi You and all the warriors of the Giant Race, banishing all half-human, half-giant creations to another dimension.]

“…….”

[However, I was aware that Chi You had left his last will. No matter how the emperor read the laws of cause and effect, Chi You was an existence that transcended them, meaning that I knew Chi You’s bloodline would resurrect at some point…]

Feeling perplexed by Shennong’s words, I asked,

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying Chi You could have ignored the Emperor’s power and resurrect his bloodline?”

[Indeed.]

Shennong gripped the arms of his throne tightly and continued,

[He was capable of that… a small anomaly in cause and effect; however, the emperor likely ignored it, as Chi You’s powers overwhelmingly surpassed his own.]

“……!!”

[As the king of the Giant Race, I could recognize Chi You’s will. I sensed that his bloodline would eventually resurrect… and thus believed I must ensure that strength manifested in a favorable manner. That’s why I arranged for my divine power to also manifest within that bloodline. My power has, to some extent, influenced history to allow that bloodline to live robustly without being oppressed.]

“Is it possible to do that while sealed?”

[… I had a helper….]

“A helper?”

Shennong seemed reluctant to elaborate further on this point and redirected the conversation.

[However, to my surprise, I did not expect to see him manifest as a female entity from 500 years before the end of all things. Perhaps there was some mistake…]

“You’re saying it’s strange she appeared in the era of the Great Ming Empire?”

[Exactly. I had always thought Chi You’s bloodline would appear close to the end and would manifest as a male entity. After all, revealing itself too soon might just have it stifled by the establishments of the Celestial Realm or the Three Sovereigns.]

“Ah….”

I began to grasp what Shennong meant.

Considering the time I began my reincarnation in the barn, I had indeed faced numerous disruptions from the Celestial Realm or divine beings. The medieval era of the Great Ming Empire, while not as potent as the mythical age, still managed to retain enough mysterious powers and sorcery, along with remnants of the Celestial Realm’s energies, making it impossible to bypass those disruptions. However, as the end neared, the influence of the Three Sovereigns would likely decline, thus it made sense to predict Chi You’s bloodline would be born closer to that time.

Then why?

Why did Chi You’s bloodline manifest as Seo Mun-hye?

Could it be a simple error, or was there some underlying reason?

Shennong fixed his gaze on Seo Mun-hye.

[Regardless, Seo Mun-hye is indeed Chi You’s successor and a descendant of the Giant Race. You are of our clan.]

“……”

Seo Mun-hye seemed to feel something in Shennong’s words and held back tears. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke.

“…Thank you.”

Unlike other alien races, Seo Mun-hye didn’t seem to harbor much aversion toward the Giant Race. Looking at her expression, it was clear she felt a deep sense of kinship and harmony within. She had clearly become something somewhat beyond a mere human.

I cautiously addressed Shennong,

“Great Shennong, thank you for explaining. And what is your proposal…?”

[I would ask you, Baek Woong, what do you think was Chi You’s reason for leaving his bloodline behind?]

“Hmm… I suppose it is because he thinks his descendants will take vengeance on Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen?”

[That is what I initially thought as well. However, my perspective has changed slightly in recent times.]

Shennong rested his chin on his hand as if contemplating something.

[He might not have acknowledged the defeat at Takrok…]

“……?”

[In a state where the main body is sealed so strongly, that would be utterly impossible…. But… as Chi You. Maybe what seems impossible can become possible. That’s why I urgently called you here.]

“What are you trying to say?”

Swish

Shennong began to remove his ceremonial attire. Then, as he slowly rose from his seat, his body rapidly expanded, transforming into a silver giant.

Woosh!

However, the silver giant was merely the size of a single palm, unable to compare to the colossal figure I remembered from before. While maintaining this form, Shennong spoke.

[Look at this pitiful body. Maintaining this appearance is so difficult that I’m in this avatar out of desperation. As you can see, my power has nearly run out.]

I gasped in shock and exclaimed,

“No way! How could this happen…? Shouldn’t you regain your power and become stronger once Nüwa’s seal is lifted?!”

I knew that during my multiple reincarnations, there were instances where I had lifted Shennong’s seal, and at those times, he instantly displayed overwhelming prowess, either overpowering the Sea Gods or incinerating the Divine Guardians. Until coming here, I had thought that having such a mighty ally would be a huge boon to me.

But I couldn’t believe he had weakened to this extent?!

At my incredulous outburst, Shennong said,

[What took my power was the Hall of the Heavenly Demon. The moment I was resurrected there, it hijacked my strength. I could have resisted it, but I chose not to.]

“Wha-what do you mean? What is the Hall of the Heavenly Demon?”

[It is the place where Chi You is sealed. The most stringent of seals in the universe is put in place there.]

“Oh, that’s….”

At that moment, a memory stirred in my mind.

‘Ah, right then…’

When I had visited the ruins of the Giant Race where I met the Zhuyong Tribe, I had obtained permission from the prophet to explore those ruins. The Zhuyong Tribe had guided me inside those ruins, and bizarre landscapes I witnessed flashed through my mind.

[This is the Hall of the Heavenly Demon. All the energies born from the Hall of Sealing support the millions of sealing devices in the Hall of the Heavenly Demon. Thanks to that, we barely manage to keep him contained.]

[What is that being?]

[It’s a secret and cannot be disclosed.]

At that time, I simply thought those places were mysterious. However, now to hear the Hall of the Heavenly Demon mentioned from Shennong’s lips?

‘So that was it…!!’

The Hall of the Heavenly Demon, sealed by the Zhuyong Tribe in the Giant Race’s ruins.

The one trapped within that Hall—the only giant trapped—was Chi You himself!

I couldn’t believe I had seen Chi You from such an early time?!

As the heaviness of realization settled in, I regained my voice and said,

“Isn’t that a seal set up by the Zhuyong Tribe? Why would they seal Chi You?”

[They accidentally became involved in our war. The emperor acknowledged their unwitting involvement and, as a punishment for their defeat, entrusted them with the sealing and cleansing of our Giant Race. Included in this was also Chi You’s sealing, meaning they possess one of the few capabilities to seal Chi You in the universe.]

“…….”

More memories surfaced.

[Betrayal! How dare you, a mere human, speak of such things…]

[This isn’t betrayal. Not at all!]

[We never intended to oppose the Three Sovereigns in the first place. We were merely observers and maintained good relations with the [Old Ruler]. However, an unexpected calamity occurred, dragging us into the battlefield with the emperor.]

[A mutation appeared, after all.]

[In order to avoid unnecessary war with the Three Sovereigns, we decided to return everything to normal. We merely subdued the Giant Race that rejected the laws of this world to end that war. Even then, we did our best to save and gather the Giant Races, so we did nothing morally wrong.]

[We are not the Giant Race! We are ourselves, only by chance associated with the Zhuyong Tribe.]

The Zhuyong Tribe member who had borrowed the body of a woman named Margil had reacted fiercely when I questioned why they had betrayed the Giant Race. At that time, I had wondered why they were so sensitive to the term “betrayal,” but now I felt I could understand it.

Having been dragged into an unforeseen war, it made complete sense that the Zhuyong Tribe would feel justified in pursuing survival after being abused as the losing side by the cosmic-level Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen!

As I sorted my thoughts, I spoke to Shennong.

“Great Shennong, if that’s the case, are you saying that their powers were taken away from the Hall of the Heavenly Demon, and Chi You…?”

[You are correct.]

My eyes widened at his follow-up words.

[Chi You is already in the process of resurrection. To prepare for that, he demanded my power, and I consented. By now, the Zhuyong Tribe must be faced with some difficulties.]

“…What?! Why would you do that?!”

I exclaimed in panic.

“Chi You awakening could be good for me, but… what benefit would it be for you, Great Shennong? He lost all his strength with the end at hand!”

Objectively viewing Shennong’s power, it seemed to greatly exceed each of the Five Sovereigns, aside from the Emperor. Naturally, that power was incredibly strong on a cosmic level, capable of governing galaxies, thus none could afford to underestimate him. Yet, to think he would willingly transfer most of his power to someone else?!

[I can no longer defeat Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen with my own power. Is it so strange I plan to flip the balance of reality by borrowing Chi You’s strength?]

“……”

[The power of the Divine Temple is at its peak historically. Compared to the strength of the emperor, any divine temple in the current universe pales in comparison. With direct confrontation now impossible, my remaining powers are useless.]

Shennong crossed his arms and continued.

[Meeting Nüwa and Fuxi and hearing the stories about you solidified my resolve. With you, the reincarnated one, the emperor cannot easily secure victory.]

“Hmm… you might be overestimating me. But what’s the gist of this?”

[Listen well. From here on, your choice is crucial.]

Shennong turned his gaze toward Seo Mun-hye.

[Chi You will attempt to resurrect using that child’s body. I hope you will be sure to stop him if he tries.]

“……!!”

[That is why I called you here and why I am making this proposal.]

This—what does this even mean?!

Chi You is trying to resurrect using Seo Mun-hye’s body?!

Faced with Shennong’s unexpected words, I vigorously shook my head and shouted,

“What do you mean?! Why would Chi You want to resurrect through his bloodline? And why Seo Mun-hye…?”

[I already explained everything. Chi You possibly left his bloodline with the intention of transcending the laws of causation from the start. It seems far too meticulous a setup to simply wish for his bloodline to awaken.]

“……”

This—this is absurd….

As I struggled to find my words, Shennong spoke again.

[But that’s not the outcome I desire. Because if Chi You were to resurrect this way, he wouldn’t be able to defeat the current Divine Temple.]

“Why not?”

[Because it’s not his own body.]

Suddenly, Shennong slowly approached Seo Mun-hye and stopped right in front of her, continuing to speak.

[Regardless of how true higher deities do not need a physical body, it is different for Chi You. His body has within it immense power capable of battling the Three Sovereigns, and his spirit exceeds the potential of that body. Chi You is an existence unlike any other in the universe, and his strength stemmed from his special body.]

Huh?

Something doesn’t sit right….

“Are you saying that this special body is not the typical body of the Giant Race?”

[Exactly. He grew up as a member of the Giant Race at first, but afterward, he surpassed the form of the Giant Race, reconstructed his own body, and ultimately became something entirely separate.]

“…Hmm.”

[Even for Chi You, if he lacks a body, defeating the current emperor and Divine Temple will be challenging…]

Shennong looked down at Seo Mun-hye.

[I hope you will drive Chi You away if he tries to possess Seo Mun-hye.]

“Are you saying Chi You will possess Seo Mun-hye’s body to resurrect?”

[That is a possibility.]

I exclaimed in disbelief.

“But Chi You is sealed right now! Is it even possible for only his spirit to escape from a place with millions of sealing devices in the Hall of the Heavenly Demon?”

[It seems you’ve been there after all.]

“Yeah, a while back…”

Then Shennong shocked me with unexpected words.

[What you saw there was the main body, but not a physical one. That was Chi You’s spirit.]

“……!!”

[The Hall of the Heavenly Demon is where Chi You’s spirit is extracted and imprisoned.]

His spirit?!

So that was it, it wasn’t actually a physical body!

Realizing this, I suddenly shouted,

“Seo Mun-hye is Chi You’s bloodline, meaning using the laws of causation for that bloodline, he could potentially break free from that seal and possess Seo Mun-hye!”

[Exactly. Now you understand.]

I clenched my teeth.

“Ugh…. How could Chi You, the War God, stoop to such petty tricks? Taking the body of his descendants?!”

In response to my outburst, Shennong replied,

[That may not be his intention.]

“Huh?”

[The existence of the bloodline was merely Chi You’s last resort. Chi You himself undoubtedly wishes to resurrect by finding his own main body, but once certain conditions are met, it seems to be set as a spell unconsciously pulling him to possess.]

“Hmm… so the reason he would try to possess Seo Mun-hye…”

Swish

Shennong stretched out the arm of the silver giant toward Seo Mun-hye’s head. It seemed very intimidating, yet Seo Mun-hye looked at Shennong without any fear, and as he gently petted her head, it appeared he regarded her fondly.

[This child has reached a level of power enough to tempt Chi You… Spellcasting is like an arrow shot; it will be cast upon one who meets the basic conditions of the body Chi You envisions, regardless of his will.]

“Wouldn’t Chi You’s spirit recognize the situation and be able to refuse it?”

[Of course, that is possible. His pride may not allow it. However, I do not know Chi You’s heart, so I cannot anticipate what choice he will make.]

He seemed to lament, muttering to himself.

[In the end, I will never know what Chi You truly thinks…]

After a brief silence, Shennong continued,

[So, we must lift Chi You’s seal in advance to prevent him from coming to Seo Mun-hye. If we can create opportunities for him to resurrect autonomously, we could avoid the worst possible outcomes for everyone.]

“What?”

I was taken aback and replied.

“The Zhuyong Tribe is incredibly powerful. They’ll surely try to protect the Hall of the Heavenly Demon at all costs, so I can’t possibly believe we can lift Chi You’s seal…”

[It’s not the Hall of the Heavenly Demon. I mentioned earlier that it contains only the spirit, right? Then what about Chi You’s body?]

“…Oh.”

As I closed my mouth, Shennong spoke.

[Chi You’s body was divided and entrusted to the Four Emperors, each one controlling one piece across the world. They had no ability to control his body, so the emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen brutally ripped Chi You apart, assigning each part of his body to the Emperors for sealing. Their mission was to guard that seal, which is why they descended as kings upon the material realm, watching over it.]

“……!!”

The reason the Five Sovereigns had taken turns reigning as kings was also to oversee Chi You’s sealing!

[I don’t know who took which part and where it was sealed. But if we could at least lift the seal of one or two of the pieces, Chi You, empowered by my strength, could potentially resurrect on his own.]

So, basically, Chi You’s body was torn apart and sealed!

Hearing this from Shennong, I replied,

“You want me to team up with my companions to lift Chi You’s seal on the surface?”

[That is exactly my proposal.]

“……”

Now, I was starting to grasp the situation.

‘Shennong desires Chi You’s resurrection and has almost entirely transferred his power to Chi You’s spirit. But this could lead to the unwanted result of that spirit possessing his bloodline, Seo Mun-hye. No one wants that outcome. To prevent it…’

We’d have to locate the sealed pieces of Chi You’s body that the Emperors are safeguarding and lift their seals!

I spoke to Shennong.

“I suspect there are four seals in total, but do we have to lift them all?”

[While it would be ideal to do so, I believe even if we could just lift one or two, Chi You would in all likelihood be able to resurrect himself.]

“Hmm….”

Originally, I aimed to gather information about the Battleground, but it seems unexpected complications have arisen.

‘I could dismiss the proposal, but…’

If I ignore it, the possibility of a revitalized Chi You’s spirit escaping from the Hall of the Heavenly Demon in search of possession grows, endangering Seo Mun-hye’s very life. If I truly cherish her, this proposal clearly cannot be overlooked!

After careful consideration, I nodded firmly.

“Now that things have unfolded, I have no choice. I will accept your proposal.”

[Thank you.]

“But in return, what will you offer me, Great Shennong? I too am on a tight schedule.”

It might come off as a bit presumptuous, but it couldn’t be helped. Although I was being forced to act for Seo Mun-hye, with the end drawing near, I needed to get something from Shennong to alleviate the burden on my comrades.

Shennong calmly replied,

[What you need most is information about the Battleground. I will grant you access to the library of this Imperial Palace, allowing you to freely take whatever knowledge you desire. You won’t even need to use dimensional travel spells to come and go.]

“Hmm.”

[Besides Battleground information, there should be plenty of valuable knowledge for today’s human race, too.]

Shennong didn’t seem to take my words too arrogantly. His earlier recognition of me as a king wasn’t just empty flattery. I let out a quiet sigh of relief and spoke to Shennong.

“If possible, could I take some treasures from the Imperial Palace? I imagine there might be treasures like legacy artifacts…”

[This place hasn’t been maintained for ages, and the treasures were originally sustained by my powers. They would have been a different story if I was still active, but now they are of little value.]

“Ugh….”

I frowned, realizing once again that I was at a disadvantage here. Nevertheless, reluctantly and respectfully, I slightly bowed my head to Shennong.

“Understood. I look forward to your continued support.”

[…….]

Shennong seemed to gently pet Seo Mun-hye’s hair once more. Despite his silver flames, she showed no sign of being burned, as if she felt no heat at all.

[I’m sorry, child. I have placed a great burden on you.]

Seo Mun-hye gazed at Shennong with wide eyes. Slowly, she held his finger with her delicate white hand and said.

“When I was trapped in the ice wall, I could sometimes sense someone’s presence. They seemed to hesitate and yet were tormented by their thoughts. But they never called out to me…”

After a pause, Seo Mun-hye continued.

“I’ve decided to devote everything to Baek Woong. No matter who it is, if it’s for you, I will fight.”

Shennong, impressed by her words, exclaimed,

[You are truly an exceptional warrior… I am proud.]

Woosh!

With those final words, Shennong vanished from sight.

“Ah!”

Startled, I looked to Seo Mun-hye, who tossed her hair back and said.

“He’s grown too weak and has gone to rest. But don’t worry, he’s given me the library’s location and the keys to open it.”

I followed Seo Mun-hye toward the library of the Giant Race’s palace. The library was immense, spanning beyond the horizon, resembling a miniature country. With a gentle touch, Seo Mun-hye opened the heavy doors, revealing an overwhelming number of books.

Turning to her, I asked,

“Are you really okay? With the threat of Chi You suddenly looming…”

“I’m fine, Baek Woong. Even if that happens, Chi You descending upon me might be of benefit to you.”

“No way…”

Chi You, a being beyond measure, feared even by the Three Sovereigns, was essentially a disaster! I found it nearly impossible to envision what thoughts he would hold upon meeting me. The mere idea of such a monumental entity assisting me felt like a foolish fantasy.

Seeing my hesitation, Seo Mun-hye smiled warmly.

“I fear nothing as long as you’re by my side.”

“I promise.”

I gritted my teeth and tightly grasped Seo Mun-hye’s hand.

“I will do everything in my power to prevent such a situation from occurring!”

I’ll investigate the battleground and locate the pieces of Chi You’s body to lift the seals!

‘It’s not an impossible task!’

With the Great Bear Empire as my ally, I seized control of half the world, while the Cheon Woo-jin could collect data from all over the planet. Furthermore, as the Jade Emperor, I could freely obtain information from the deities of the Celestial Realm. On top of that, Shennong had provided me access to the library of the Giant Race, so finding Chi You’s seals would surely be possible!

After returning to the Great Bear Empire’s palace with Seo Mun-hye, I shared the entire conversation I had with Shennong with my comrades. The first to speak up after listening intently was Zhuge Liang.

“Baek Woong, it sounds like you had a fruitful conversation with Shennong. By the way, it’s not hard to guess where the parts of Chi You’s body are, is it?”

“Huh?”

“It seems others have figured it out as well.”

Zhuge Liang’s eyes gleamed as he glanced at Baek Woong.

“As you mentioned, the first place we should investigate is the [Grave of the God] located in Liaodong. For now, that’s our most suspicious location.”

 

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