1262——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I was set to undergo surgery with Hwa Seong-myeong, but I had one worry, so I said to him,

“I’m sorry, but I heard that surgery takes about seven days, is that true?”

“Hmm? Yes, that’s right. I was thinking it would take about that long for recovery too.”

“Isn’t there a way to speed that up a bit?”

Sure, getting the surgery is great and all, but seven days is quite a long time. With my past life experiences, I knew that if I didn’t move for three days, unexpected variables would pop up, and I’d have to deal with them. So, I wanted to resolve this as quickly as possible and stay quiet in the village. Hwa Seong-myeong then pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Before that, I’d like to know more about your condition.”

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly speaking, are you a Half-Transition Master or not?”

“……”

“If you are, just say so. If you’re troubled, I’ll naturally believe you’re not trying to mess with me.”

I decided to be honest with Hwa Seong-myeong.

“I’m not a Half-Transition Master. I’ve consumed a significant amount of Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and other spiritual pills, which has allowed me to exceed human internal power levels. I haven’t just taken one or two.”

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“Really?! Isn’t that incredibly rare?! Finding just one Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng requires your entire lifetime worth of luck!”

“I swear it’s true.”

“Truly remarkable…”

“But why were you asking about the Half-Transition status?”

“Well, while checking your condition, I noticed something extremely odd. I must know how it could affect such a sensitive surgery before proceeding.”

“Odd?”

He scratched his cheek sheepishly and replied.

“Your blood vessels and qi pathways are completely altered compared to an ordinary person. Except for the basic channels, everything is different. It’s not even the same as an expert who has spent decades cultivating their internal energy. My medical knowledge can’t even read the flow within your body.”

“……?!”

“I believe the reason lies with the unique circular… no, wheel-like flow circulating with your internal energy. Inside your body, there are multiple thunder balls, and an immense amount of internal energy is continuously being drawn into those balls, fuelling your breathing. As a result, the functions of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels have completely changed. Although the positions are the same, the roles of those vessels need to be re-understood completely.”

“Whoa….”

“I’ve never examined a Half-Transition Master’s condition before. I had assumed it would be different, but I had no idea. Given your time, it seems you’re in a bit of a rush… If you can guess anything, please share.”

“……”

His words sparked a realization.

‘Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique!!’

The Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique forced thunder balls into the body’s blood vessels, creating unique internal circulation. This technique significantly differed from typical internal energy cultivation techniques, and without mastering the Soul Exchange Technique, one couldn’t achieve any real progress. Since I had practiced the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique for quite some time, it made sense that it greatly influenced my body.

‘Did the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique completely alter my blood vessels…!!’

I realized this could be a major issue. So, I thought it best to reveal everything to Hwa Seong-myeong.

“Actually, what I’ve learned is a unique divine art known as the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, based on the principle of creating chambers for thunder, and fundamentally, it’s about cultivating the Thunder Soul … To practice it, I also have to cultivate the Soul Exchange Technique.”

“Soul Exchange Technique?! Did I hear that correctly? Are you talking about the heretical…”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“……”

I explained the workings of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, its achievements, and the existence of the Soul Exchange Technique. Hwa Seong-myeong quietly wrote it down, deep in thought, before saying,

“So… you’re essentially saying you treat thunder itself as a soul, maturing it in the Upper Dantian for an extended period, and drawing that power from the Middle Dantian… you’re aiming for some divine status…”

After a moment, he muttered in awe, “Could it be that such a high-level martial art exists? Normally, a person uses just the Lower Dantian for their entire life…!! That legendary sorcery that only the Master of the Heretical Sect can learn is just part of your training? Who could create such a divine art?”

“Having high aspirations, it can’t be helped…”

“Haha… if that’s the case, this might be easier than expected.”

“Really?”

Hwa Seong-myeong took his brush and lightly poked my forehead with it.

“Do you know what has troubled me the most? It’s the fact that you’re so young.”

“Why is that troublesome?”

“While a human’s body grows, the bone and flesh develop together, inevitably altering the original foundation of what cosmetic surgery tries to stabilize. Of course, using our lineage’s traditional techniques handed down from Hua Tuo could solve this problem too, but it certainly comes with its risks. That’s why I asked if you’re a Half-Transition Master.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“But now, it seems that isn’t the main issue. My cosmetic techniques are just a supplementary matter; the real deal comes from collaborating with the Thunder Soul you possess.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Thunder Soul is alive.”

Huh?! What does that even mean?!

I was so shocked when I looked at Hwa Seong-myeong. He continued,

“You’re a master who can use the Mind Control Technique, and you stated that the Thunder Soul substitutes for human emotional consumption, right? Because of that, when using techniques related to thunder energy, the efficiency greatly improves as well.”

“Exactly.”

“But that also means the Thunder Soul has its own independent will.”

“……!!”

“While it may not have reason as a human would, it could be viewed as an artificial life form… the Thunder Soul is, in fact, alive.”

The Thunder Soul is considered alive?!

I was baffled, having never heard anything like this while receiving the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique instruction. My confusion showed on my face, prompting Hwa Seong-myeong to continue explaining.

“With the Soul Exchange Technique, you can make your Thunder Soul an integral part of yourself, moving it freely within your body. The soul manipulation technique fundamentally deals with the essence of souls. It implies you initially recognize the Thunder Soul as a living entity.”

“No, I always thought that was just a metaphor for the techniques used.”

“It’s not a metaphor. If it were, your blood vessels wouldn’t have changed. You’ll need to approach the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique with a completely different perspective moving forward.”

“……”

Am I coming here for cosmetic surgery only to learn something new about the Thunder Soul from the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique?!

Stunned by the unexpected turn of events, Hwa Seong-myeong continued,

“Regardless, I’m not a martial arts master, so I won’t delve deeper. I can only take advantage of the properties of your Thunder Soul for the surgery.”

“How exactly will you use it?”

“By using the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique on your forehead, I will focus your Thunder Soul there.”

Whoa—

I followed Hwa Seong-myeong’s instructions. Instantly, I felt a tingling sensation on my forehead as the power of thunder concentrated there. Hwa Seong-myeong continued,

“The key to the surgery is to fix the finalized form using the properties of the Thunder Soul. Your cooperation is essential.”

“Fix the form?”

“Yes. You need to input your will of ‘becoming the ultimate handsome man’ into the Thunder Soul. With that, I won’t need to spend long fixing the shape, so the surgery will also finish faster.”

“……?”

“I suppose I need to explain this more simply… hmm…”

After a moment’s thought, Hwa Seong-myeong stated,

“To put it plainly, let’s say you think intensely of the ‘most handsome man.’ Then, when you inject that thought into the concentrated Thunder Soul on your forehead, the Thunder Soul will remember that handsome form going forward.”

“What?! So there’s no need for blood vessels or prosthetics or anything?!”

Now that I finally got it, Hwa Seong-myeong obliged me with a nod.

“Exactly! It’s an ultimate cosmetic surgery! There could be no side effects at all! The only other way to accomplish such a perfect cosmetic change is through transformation or switching to a different artificial body.”

“……!!”

“However, you absolutely need strong willpower and focus… and one more thing… you need to have a clear idea of what that ultimate handsome man you want to look like is. To prevent any potential side effects, I’ll also need to poke a lot of needles into your face.”

“So, I need to keep visualizing the most handsome face I want in my mind?”

“Probably.”

Hwa Seong-myeong warned sternly,

“I don’t know to what extent the Thunder Soul’s effects will be, so you can’t afford to have any vague ideas! You need a distinctly clear image of the face that’ll manifest before you! Your real challenge is to figure out what your desired appearance is. Normally, I would adjust the handsome form for you, but with this approach, I can’t do much.”

“Hmm….”

What do I want to look like?

I began to ponder this unexpected task. Finally, I asked Hwa Seong-myeong,

“Who is the most handsome person in the world?”

“Well, there are legendary figures like Song Yu or Pan An. But as you know, common portraits can’t accurately portray their beauty. I need something specific.”

“Hmmm.”

Since I’m going for surgery anyway, I want to become the most handsome of all…

I thought for a while before saying to Hwa Seong-myeong,

“Please wait a moment; I’ll go seek wisdom from someone else.”

“Do as you like.”

Whoosh!

I flew back towards Soeul Village. I intended to tell Mangnyang about the situation and seek his help.

After hearing the whole story, Mangnyang fell into thought and then spoke.

“First, name the ultimate handsome men you’ve met so far. You seem to have more life experience than you let on.”

I racked my memories.

“Well…. Namgung Hwan is handsome, and Han Jin-seong is too… oh, the Tripitaka is too… and I heard the Master of the Twelve Joules is handsome, but I’ve never seen that brat’s face… and Yang Zhen in the Celestial Realm is quite handsome… Five hundred years later, Zhu Xian also had a standout figure, right?”

“……”

“Oh, and among those I’ve seen, Fuxi is the most handsome.”

“…are you seriously crazy?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, no. Uh, hmm.”

Mangnyang gave me a completely bewildered look but managed to compose himself.

“Fine… well, it seems like you’ve seen several beautiful men throughout your life. Then I suppose just picturing Fuxi’s appearance should suffice?”

“Well, the thing is… if I accidentally become the Jade Emperor later, I might meet Nüwa and Fuxi, and that could be sacrilegious.”

“Hahaha… Talking to you makes me feel like I’m going insane.”

“……”

I’m serious though…

Though Mangnyang looked skeptical, he somewhat solemnly summarized the discussion.

“Anyways, I get it. So you fear borrowing someone else’s looks because it might backfire.”

“That’s right. Anyway, since a peaceful life is my goal, I want to avoid any issues as much as possible.”

“Hmmm. What’s the character of someone calling themselves Fuxi like?”

“He seems very generous but has his sharp edges; there’s softness and leisure to him.”

Mangnyang waved his fan at me.

“Then, well, later on, you can just apologize and borrow that person’s looks for a while. If what you say is true, Fuxi, a magnificent divine being, wouldn’t be angered by simply borrowing a human appearance. After all, to the gods, it’s just a trivial play.”

“Oh! That makes sense.”

“And if you find it tough later, come see me for advice. I have some experience in mental therapy too.”

“Thanks.”

Something felt off about how Mangnyang understood it, but his input was helpful, so I accepted it and flew back to Hwa Seong-myeong, confidently declaring,

“I’ve made my decision!”

“Good! Then I’ll start the procedure; concentrate your Thunder Soul where I marked your forehead and keep visualizing your desired appearance.”

“Understood.”

“It’ll likely hurt a lot for around two moments. We’re forcibly pulling and pressing muscles and nerves.”

“…What?”

“If you can endure the pain, let’s get to it.”

“Ugh, alright.”

Crackle!!

“Whoa!”

“Focus, focus!! My procedure isn’t central; your will is key!”

“……!!”

“Impress upon the Thunder Soul the desired appearance!”

I felt electric shocks flickering across my face. In tandem, I also felt insurmountable pain, akin to having a tooth pulled, occurring every half moment. It was unbearable, but I steeled my mind and continued visualizing Fuxi’s face.

‘Whoa!!’

But….

All the hardships of living with an unattractive face flooded back.

When I had my first surgery, I was too busy to enjoy the benefits of beauty, but this time will be different.

This time, I’ll live as a handsome man!

Zzap! Zzap!!

Moments passed as the Thunder Soul flickered on my forehead until suddenly, I felt a strong reaction. It felt as if some will was being conveyed to my mind.

[…Remember…]

I thought it meant recalling the handsome image, but unexpectedly, voices began to resonate.

[‘We’… will… grow… together….]

What does that mean…

Zzap!!

The pain was searing, and I fainted.

After a while, I woke up to find Hwa Seong-myeong by my bedside.

“Up already?”

“How long was I out…?”

“You’ve been unconscious for about half a day. But there’s no need for you to remain here. You can head back whenever you wish.”

He then showed me a mirror.

“I can’t believe such looks ever existed in the world.”

“……”

Hwa Seong-myeong gazed in awe at my face, then said,

“Indeed… this looks not like an ordinary person born but rather… it feels as if a divine being crafted the most perfect beauty through observation… such a flawlessly sculpted visage…”

His evaluation, coming from a practitioner renowned for their medical expertise, was undoubtedly objective.

Before me stood the visage of Fuxi.

The most handsome and beautiful being I had seen now appeared before me, with youthful and bright eyes.

‘Was it… really like this?’

It surpassed the appearance from my first surgery. An artistically perfect symmetry radiated from me.

“Thank you!”

“What’s the thanks for? It was mainly your concentration and Thunder Soul that did the surgery.”

While he grumbled as if displeased, Hwa Seong-myeong added,

“However, I can’t guarantee there won’t be side effects from using the Thunder Soul for cosmetic surgery, so refrain from using your internal energy and the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique for a while. You seem to be flying around; just take it easy for a day.”

“Understood.”

I left Hwa Seong-myeong’s place feeling elated.

‘Shall I enjoy myself in Gaegyeong for a bit?’

I planned to indulge in delicious foods and sightseeing for the day in Gaegyeong. However, as I entered the city, I was greeted with an unexpected and overwhelming sensation.

Murmurs

Every gaze seemed to converge on me, creating a surreal atmosphere!

Men and women alike turned to stare, some even gaping in shock, while occasional whispers of admiration floated through the crowd.

‘What? I didn’t get this kind of attention with my first surgery…?’

Is Fuxi’s appearance really this captivating?

Caught off guard by the unprecedented attention, I hurried away to a quieter spot. But as I peeked out again, the same reactions flooded in, feeling as if I had somehow become an object of fascination.

‘This isn’t a bad feeling. But I’d rather not draw too much attention; maybe it’s best to leave Gaegyeong now.’

Resolutely, I used the Instantaneous Method to exit Gaegyeong. While I still struggled a bit with its execution, I made my way swiftly south towards Goryeo. That night, I camped out on a mountain near Donglaifu, catching a short rest. Once dawn broke, I soared through the skies to Dongyoung.

Zap!

Upon reaching the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, I found Susanoo waiting for me.

“Hoh, your appearance has changed a bit! Is that… a face I recognize?”

“Do you know him?”

“I remember the face he wore when transformed into a human. So you’re indeed tied to Fuxi.”

“Somewhat.”

Being a mythical figure, he must have encountered Fuxi back in the day. I stated to Susanoo,

“Today, I’ve come to take Miho with me.”

“Very well. Come forth, fox!”

At Susanoo’s command, Miho timidly emerged from behind a pillar, her eyes widening in shock upon seeing my face.

“N-No!!”

“……”

“Oh my….”

I grinned and asked Miho,

“Do you like it now?”

Miho seemed momentarily stunned, then cautiously approached, taking my hand delicately.

“Please forgive my rudeness. I will follow you without question.”

“Really?”

“Yes…. It’s not your looks that frightened me, but the fear of following a stranger.”

“Hahaha.”

I chuckled and said,

“Let’s enjoy this life together, Miho!”

Once I’ve taken Miho to Soeul Village, my plans for a peaceful life this time will be over half complete!

Eager to take Miho along, I was suddenly stopped by Susanoo.

“Baek Woong, I have something to say.”

“…If it’s a request for work, I must decline. Though we’ve formed an alliance, unless it’s about directly confronting the Great Flood, I’m busy too.”

“I don’t aim to delegate any tasks. I simply want you to hear this.”

“What is it?”

After a moment of silence, Susanoo continued,

“The sudden retreat of the Evil God has given me leisure, allowing me to collaborate with Abe no Seimei to conduct a ritual on Mount Fuji to read future branches of fate. I’ve discovered one sign of the impending Great Flood—a calamity to come.”

“Sign?”

“The Black Moon.”

With a serious expression, Susanoo elaborated,

“On the day the black moon rises, a cataclysmic flood will sweep across the mortal realm…!!”

“……”

Upon hearing this, I recalled something.

“Isn’t that similar to when your parents, Izanagi no Mikoto, reincarnate?”

“Hmm, so you knew that. Quite perceptive, Baek Woong….”

Impressed, Susanoo remarked.

“However, I don’t think Izanagi no Mikoto is directly connected to this latest fate. It seems another entity’s powers might be involved.”

“Who could that be?”

“I’m doing my best to find out. So please put in your efforts as well.”

“Understood. I’ll do just that.”

First, I’ll ensure that my desires in Soeul Village come to fruition, then delve into this mystery!

I refuse to be swept along by circumstances!

Zap!

I returned with Miho to Soeul Village, and as soon as I landed, a familiar voice called out.

“Baek Woong!”

Miho and I turned to see a beautiful woman beaming with joy, and I exclaimed in surprise.

“Seo Mun-hye!! What a pleasant surprise.”

“I just arrived from the Shadowless Gate.”

“How did you recognize me?”

Seo Mun-hye gazed at me sincerely, her joy palpable.

“Your appearance has drastically changed, but… somehow, I can tell your essence hasn’t changed. You are still Baek Woong.”

“I see.”

The ability to perceive someone’s essence is indeed the realm of divine powers.

My powers as a giant seem to have awakened to some extent.

“By the way, Baek Woong.”

“Yeah?”

As I nodded, Seo Mun-hye’s sudden eerie tone sent chills through me.

“Who is that fox beside you?”

“……”