1198——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I should’ve died. I should have taken advantage of the chaos while the Heavenly Demon fought the experts of the Divine Skill and ended it all.

But I couldn’t die. The biggest reason being that I couldn’t move the Wuwei Sword I got from Cheon Woo-jin.

‘I can’t move.’

Only thoughts and language were allowed. I had already succumbed to the Emperor’s power. It wasn’t just that the Emperor prevented my act of suicide; he had clearly bound me in such a way that I couldn’t move at all.

And another thing – Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, who is nearly at the pinnacle among the Old Rulers, facing off against the Divine Skill felt like a nightmare.

How could this be?

The Divine Skill was supposed to be the last hope to defeat the Old Rulers… and yet the gods themselves learned the Divine Skill and slaughtered the absolute masters!

Crack

While I was at a loss, the golden light shimmering in the Heavenly Demon’s eyes diminished and transformed into human golden irises. Sagong Lin’s hair, now golden, gave off an overwhelming brilliance that could blind anyone.

‘So beautiful….’

It was a thought I shouldn’t have in this situation, but it was too magnificent and lovely. Could such beauty that fulfills the human desire for gold truly exist? Even my refined eye for beauty, having seen countless stunning women, couldn’t help but be in awe of something absolutely extraordinary. It was probably because the Emperor’s divine status transcended ordinary beauty.

The Heavenly Demon spoke.

“I’m thinking of making a deal with the reborn one. So, cease your meaningless resistance, Apostle of Master Mangnyang.”

Though his eyes looked at me, those words were clearly directed at Cheon Woo-jin standing behind him. And by Cheon Woo-jin’s side, Asura had appeared, holding his sword in a mid-stage posture as if to protect Cheon Woo-jin.

Cheon Woo-jin and Asura – ordinarily, someone with their level of power wouldn’t be afraid of the Old Rulers, but the being in front of them was a monster beyond reasoning. More importantly, what good would it do for the two of them to fight when the experts of the Divine Skill had already fallen?

Then Cheon Woo-jin spoke.

“Emperor. This is all your fault. How could an entity hated by the reborn ascend!”

The Heavenly Demon didn’t respond. In fact, he didn’t even look at Cheon Woo-jin but simply stared at me with a strange look in his eyes. That action, appearing to ignore Cheon Woo-jin, made him raise his voice once more in strong tones.

“Even I, the Apostle of Master Mangnyang, cannot seal Baek Woong’s reincarnation. You are no different. If you forcefully imprison and torment Baek Woong, then that’s unavoidable, but ultimately, within the grand cycle, you will definitely face defeat!”

Only then did the Heavenly Demon retort.

“Don’t you feel it?”

“What do you mean?”

“The flow of the grand cycle you spoke of has changed, and now the power of Master Mangnyang is not what it used to be….”

“……?”

“The End has started, so now I can invade your boundaries.”

Thud!!

At that moment, a dark ominous energy spread from the horizon of the Underworld like a heartbeat, creating a pitch-black current. In the midst of that darkness, something that resembled eyes shone; was it just my imagination?

“Cough!! From the surface….”

And as that pulsating darkness expanded, Cheon Woo-jin suddenly clutched his heart, as if feeling pain, and collapsed on the spot. I shouted at Cheon Woo-jin.

“Cheon Woo-jin!!”

“This… this can’t be…. have you truly gone mad?”

Cheon Woo-jin gasped, looking at the Heavenly Demon as if in disbelief.

“To destroy the Battle Ground… are you not afraid of the consequences!!”

“…….”

“No matter how much your master is an obstacle for you, isn’t [that] also a disaster for you? Such arrogance… such limitless arrogance!!”

Cheon Woo-jin’s meaning was clear.

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen must be planning something to destroy the Battle Ground in Luoyang!

And destroying the Battle Ground would mean the end of Master Mangnyang, who had been fused with that Battle Ground, which would ultimately lead to the emergence of the Coming Chaos!

Cheon Woo-jin couldn’t believe that the Emperor intended to free that being.

Then the Heavenly Demon said.

“Do not panic, foolish ones. This is all for the sake of the correct outcome.”

“Correct? How can you say that….”

“This is merely the conclusion of a game played by the Absolute Beings for a very long time.”

As he spoke, the Heavenly Demon reached out his hand toward me.

“Reborn one. I propose a deal….”

Bright flash – !!

In that moment, I saw an illusion of the sword light slicing the Heavenly Demon’s neck.

‘Dark Night Slash!’

Asura, waiting for his chance, had ambushed the Heavenly Demon with the Dark Night Slash! However, despite the fatal blow that should have decapitated the Heavenly Demon, he didn’t move an inch and merely glanced behind him as if annoyed.

At the same time, Asura, having executed the Dark Night Slash, took a stance for another attack from just one palm distance, his eyes half-open. Asura’s posture was one of a mid-slice, seemingly confident in his strike.

The Emperor said to such an Asura, expressionless.

“You who served my old vassal. I spared you, but do you seek a miserable death in the end?”

“O Great One. Not being able to die in the place meant for death is a warrior’s disgrace.”

Asura smiled brightly as he spoke.

“Please, take my life with your own hands.”

A moment of silence hung in the air.

And after that silence, the Heavenly Demon slowly raised his hand and opened his mouth.

“Very well.”

I felt the silence that had emerged when the masters of the Divine Skill exerted all their power once again. In that stillness, absolute blows that disregarded human perception and physical laws would be exchanged.

As tension and silence escalated, I could feel my mental state deteriorating. Watching Asura, who was clearly going to face inevitable defeat, was driving me to madness.

But in that fleeting moment – amidst that seemingly long eternity, I heard Asura’s voice.

In the midst of time seeming to pause, Asura’s will pierced through my mind.

[Baek Woong. This might be the real last chance.]

Asura’s true self wasn’t looking at me at all. The stillness of time felt tangible, as if even the slightest speck of dust had frozen in place, and I realized that Asura had intentionally created this state.

[Yeodong-bin’s Divine Skill, the Formless Sword Path has no form. Without form, it cannot be blocked or avoided. Therefore, the Formless Sword Path is inherently invincible and cannot be countered by the Peerless Technique.]

I couldn’t respond. Because Asura’s realm of understanding and intent had far surpassed mine, I had no choice but to listen to his words during this fleeting moment. It was a characteristic of the method of conveying intent that ignored the laws of time and space.

Asura continued.

[However, the sword path of chaos must establish a single form at the moment it cuts. No matter how divine the martial art, the outcome is unavoidable. As long as it contains the power of cause and effect, it cannot escape the constraints. That was the sole flaw in Yeodong-bin’s martial arts, and the reason why the Heavenly Demon Martial Art could defeat the Formless Sword Path.]

After a moment of silence, Asura spoke with an expression of genuine fear.

[The Heavenly Demon Martial Art was created to defeat the Divine Skill meant to kill gods. No one could have predicted that such a cunning scheme of the gods would reach this level…. How could a mortal even imagine it? Truly, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen is a terrifying being.]

What he had just said was undoubtedly in analyzing the confrontation between Yeodong-bin and the Heavenly Demon.

What did it mean?

With mere comprehension of language, I understood the meaning, but in the realm of martial arts, Asura’s words made no sense. That simple statement contained the accumulated realization of absolute martial masters over hundreds and thousands of years; saying I understood it would invite disaster. Realizing that I couldn’t comprehend Asura’s teachings with my own insights, I focused solely on memorizing his words, and Asura said.

[Don’t be deceived by the Emperor, Baek Woong. The defeat of the Divine Skill isn’t the defeat of martial arts. Once your heart breaks, it’s over for everything.]

In that moment, instead of finding hope, I felt another wave of despair. I knew that Asura was trying to uplift me, but the undeniable absolute reality felt too overwhelming.

So, I desperately cried out in my mind.

[I can’t see a way to beat that guy!! Now… just being determined to win isn’t enough! What on earth am I supposed to do!!]

I couldn’t give up. But in a situation where a god had mastered martial arts to the level of annihilating the masters of the Divine Skill, how could I stay sane? Even if it was the Emperor’s trick, its force was genuine!

I felt like I was losing my mind.

Please, answer me.

I can’t keep my sanity much longer!!

However, despite my desperate cry, the distorted will created a flow of time and space swiftly released, and I saw Asura’s instant strike flying straight at the Heavenly Demon.

Asura’s Dark Night Slash looked as if the Black Moon was splitting in two, devouring the space, and the moment it entered the gap, the Heavenly Demon appeared to have his entire body shredded apart.

Eternal Dance

Thud

The Heavenly Demon seemed to have decided against trying to block the Dark Night Slash, opting instead to counter it, and Asura’s upper body was swept away by the energy released from the Heavenly Demon’s palms. In just a second, the outcome was settled without resistance.

Whoa

But the next moment, the positions of Asura and the Heavenly Demon returned to where they originally were. Asura, who had just died from the Heavenly Demon’s attack, was somehow preparing for another strike from just one palm distance, unscathed.

“……?!”

How is that possible?

At this unexpected phenomenon, the Heavenly Demon spoke expressionlessly.

“As the Apostle of Mangnyang, you utilize the principle that by altering your observation, infinite possibilities arise. You’re creating an illusion in which Asura continues to observe until he wins?”

In the direction the Heavenly Demon was looking was Cheon Woo-jin, eyes closed and focused, forming hand seals. For some reason, I hadn’t considered Cheon Woo-jin significant until now, but it turned out he was preparing a trump card.

“How pathetic. No matter how many times that is repeated, there’s no chance Asura could land a single blow on me.”

Then Cheon Woo-jin, with eyes still closed, replied bluntly.

“If we’re pathetic, then what does that make you? If you truly won, you wouldn’t even need to demonstrate your overwhelming power to Baek Woong!”

“…….”

The Heavenly Demon didn’t respond. Then he looked at Asura and spoke.

“Even if you resurrect using Cheon Woo-jin’s technique, pain will remain. That living hell is your choice, foolish one.”

Asura merely laughed.

“Haha!!”

Dark Night Slash

Once again, Asura’s strike flew toward the Heavenly Demon, but the Heavenly Demon used Eternal Dance again, disregarding the Dark Night Slash and simultaneously exploding Asura’s shoulder and neck. Asura, now mortally wounded, had his blood scatter into the air, and the Heavenly Demon then used a hand blade to penetrate his solar plexus.

Whoosh

Asura’s torn body hung limply on the Heavenly Demon’s arm for a moment. But shortly after, the positions of the Heavenly Demon and Asura were restored, and Asura took another stance for a strike. I screamed at that sight.

“Stop it!! Stop it now!!”

The Heavenly Demon planned to repeatedly kill Asura!

Even though it was a hopeless battle, Asura would continue to charge, and the Heavenly Demon would slaughter him again and again!

Crash

Though Asura was grotesquely murdered, ripped to shreds, he returned moments later thanks to Cheon Woo-jin’s technique. However, despite what must have been intense pain, Asura smiled again without even flinching.

“Hahaha!!”

This was truly a tragedy. In the blink of an eye, the number of times he was slaughtered exceeded thirty, and a normal human would have gone insane after just one or two such horrific deaths. I wanted to turn my eyes away, but I couldn’t even do that.

This continued for fifty times – no, a hundred times.

Bam

Even squishing a bug underfoot would wear one out by that point, but the Heavenly Demon showed no signs of fatigue, and Asura continued to charge at him seemingly without constraint. Gradually, I found myself growing numb to witnessing Asura’s tragic deaths.

“…….”

This shouldn’t be happening, but for some reason…. I continued watching, feeling devoid of thought. I’d initially winced and gasped in horror, but now it felt like watching a show.

Whoosh!

Unexpectedly, for the first time, the Heavenly Demon didn’t take Asura’s attack and sidestepped. More precisely, he stopped killing Asura in just one second, and I couldn’t figure out why.

The Heavenly Demon spoke, as if tired.

“Pretending to care for humans, yet you’re merely a detached group. Was this your goal from the very start?”

“Hahaha…. Isn’t that just the nature of being human?”

Asura laughed heartily, as if the countless deaths didn’t matter at all.

“Even the most gruesome massacre loses its impact when continued endlessly. You certainly understand humans well.”

“…….”

“Has Baek Woong finally calmed down?”

Could it be that from the beginning, Asura had intended to die repeatedly until I became numb to it?

I realized that through Asura’s words and felt a chill run down my spine.

‘He’s… insane….’

What Asura desired was merely for me to not give up and endure calmly.

Was everything supposed to be sacrificed just for that simple shift? Even if it meant dying countless times in front of the Emperor’s overwhelming power to resist?

But that was madness.

It wasn’t about giving me hope; it was just another way of wriggling like a bug.

Had Asura come into this fight intending to leave behind his life and everything else?

“…….”

The Heavenly Demon, without replying, looked at Cheon Woo-jin.

“Now that I am here, there’s no method for Baek Woong to commit suicide or escape. Nothing will change, no matter what you do.”

“It doesn’t matter. No matter how foolish Baek Woong may be, he is the King of Humans. With this, he should realize our true intentions.”

Cheon Woo-jin replied curtly, as if reciting a mantra.

“We’d be fine watching you suffer, even if the world collapses!”

Cheon Woo-jin suddenly grinned.

“Right, Baek Woong!!”

In that moment, I could feel the madness shared between Cheon Woo-jin and Asura. If victory was out of reach from the start, then they could only die desperately, but that madness to resist the Emperor until the very end using their deaths! They had chosen madness over yielding their will to live!

Then, for the first time, a hint of displeasure showed on the Heavenly Demon’s face.

“You were the one worthy of facing me, but you haven’t discarded the mentality of a mortal. I can no longer indulge you; it’s time for you to go….”

Whoosh

Golden light erupted violently all over the Heavenly Demon’s body. Upon seeing this, Cheon Woo-jin wore the expression of one who knew the end had come.

“Ultimately, you’re resorting to your true power.”

Whoosh!!

The golden light gradually filled the world, encompassing Cheon Woo-jin and Asura, and Cheon Woo-jin struggled desperately to withstand the oncoming brightness.

Crack

[Argh….]

But perhaps it became unbearable? Cheon Woo-jin and Asura gradually sank into the golden light, disappearing from sight. Just before being completely enveloped, Cheon Woo-jin uttered one last phrase.

[My King…. Until the very end… trust your companions!]

Boom

A moment later, when the golden light that filled the universe vanished, nothing remained in its wake. The Heavenly Demon, using Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s true power, had erased Cheon Woo-jin and Asura in one fell swoop. Even the corpses of the once fiercely fighting masters of the Divine Skill vanished entirely, leaving nothing but an empty wasteland.

As I stood there vacantly in the void-filled Underworld, the Heavenly Demon said.

“What remains for you now, reborn one, is nothing. No companions, no strength, no freedom….”

“…….”

“Now, will you listen to my proposal?”

I replied vacantly, without a soul in my voice.

“Go on.”

The Heavenly Demon stared intently at me with Sagong Lin’s face, slowly approaching. Then, in a whisper, he spoke in Sagong Lin’s voice.

“Reborn one. Let’s kill the Coming Chaos together to save the world.”

What?

What in the world is he talking about?

As I reflexively turned back to the Heavenly Demon at that shocking statement, he pointed toward the distant void.

“If we do so, you and I can ascend to the heavens together.”

“…….”

“If you cooperate just a little, it’s entirely possible.”

The conversation was taking such a ridiculous turn that I couldn’t even comprehend it. I was too incredulous to even think about extracting information from the Heavenly Demon.

“Hahaha!!”

Then, feeling drained, I burst into laughter and said to the Emperor.

“Bullshit. You think I’d believe such lies? Kill me or seal me; do as you please. I lost this life….”

The Heavenly Demon looked at me with golden irises and continued speaking.

“That would be the normal reaction. But why do you think I, the great God of Chaos, have mastered the martial arts based on the Primordial Void?”

“…….”

I was curious.

“The Divine Skill is a martial art designed to kill gods. However, as you can see, even I, the God of Chaos, have also come to learn the Divine Skill. Isn’t that right?”

“…….”

“You must be thinking that since you’ve seen my power, maybe it’s possible.”

I tried to disregard his words, closing my eyes. Yet the Emperor’s words, intriguing me like a snake, reached my heart’s blood vessels.

‘Ah.’

In that moment, I realized.

‘So that’s why.’

The reason the Emperor was flaunting his Heavenly Demon Martial Art when he could have swept everything away with the power of chaos was to showcase his absolute might by slaughtering the masters of the Divine Skill.

“To handle both the powers of Chaos and the Primordial Void means I may be able to eliminate the Coming Chaos….”

It was likely to prove his absolute power.

To give me hope that I might kill my final goal, the Coming Chaos, in this lifetime.