전생검신 Volume 90 Episode 6

Primordial Void Ruler!

He was the one who always bestowed blessings related to fortune whenever I performed the auspicious rite. Moreover, he was one of the most notable celestial beings, owning his own residence, but the real issue was the identity of the Primordial Void Ruler himself. He was the [Mask] and the mastermind behind all the conspiracies happening in the celestial realm. I had tangled with the Primordial Void Ruler many times during my previous lifetimes.

‘But this life has been so quiet… Now that I’ve returned to the current world, I haven’t even heard any news about the Primordial Void Ruler, and I didn’t want to worry about it…’

Who would have thought he would still be alive after killing Tai Gong-mang, the direct disciple of the Primordial Heaven Master and the manager of Primordial Void?

I glared at the Primordial Void Ruler and said.

[What’s your scheme?]

“What kind of scheme could there be? Even if I had some scheme, what does it matter now that we are at this point?”

The Primordial Void Ruler chuckled as he surveyed the surroundings, laughing heartily.

“Seeing you, who has brought forth chaos into this world beyond what a frog in a well could ever imagine, only brings admiration, ha ha ha.”

[…….]

“This is sincere.”

I momentarily lost my words. Whatever conspiracy he was planning in the celestial realm seemed trivial compared to the mess I was currently in.

‘Damn it! What are you thinking? This isn’t what’s important now!’

I realized that the Primordial Void Ruler was the key to the situation. While other celestial beings followed orders blindly without the will to resist, he could choose to abandon the celestial realm depending on the situation! If I wanted to avoid combat, I needed to settle things with the Primordial Void Ruler somehow.

Sensing the atmosphere hadn’t significantly changed yet, I spoke again.

[…… How does Tsukuyomi know that I’ve reincarnated 30 times?]

“Why would I know? I really don’t know… But thinking about it, even if I did know, there’s no reason to tell you plainly, right?”

[…….]

“Anyway, we’re currently adversaries… heh heh.”

Seeing the Primordial Void Ruler respond playfully made my irritation boil, but from numerous conversations before, I was able to gauge his intentions. I looked at him with emotionless eyes and said.

[What do you want?]

“Oh, it seems like you’re finally getting to the point.”

The Primordial Void Ruler smiled and continued.

“You might have guessed, but I’m teaming up with Tsukuyomi. I believe that this attempt by the Three Sovereigns has a good chance of success, so I joined in. However, seeing how things are flowing, your capabilities as a reincarnated person seem to far exceed my expectations… So I wish to form a new relationship with you.”

[…….]

“Accept me as an ally. Then I will reveal everything I know.”

So that’s how it is.

‘That guy… Normally, he wouldn’t even show up on the battlefield… But the reason he came to me is to negotiate.’

Originally, he was supposed to be on the side of the Three Sovereigns, setting traps together, but unexpectedly I overcame the traps and created a solid chance, and now he wants to be on my side. Deep down, I thought the Primordial Void Ruler was a bat-like character, but that didn’t mean I could ignore what he said right now.

‘Tsukuyomi…’

The mastermind behind the current situation! If I could gain information about him, it might be worth considering teaming up with the Primordial Void Ruler. After some thought, I addressed the Primordial Void Ruler.

[With your power, you could easily side with the Three Sovereigns and lead this war to victory. Why go through all this trouble?]

The Primordial Void Ruler might possess power comparable to the Three Sovereigns when he revealed his true identity. Based on everything I had seen up to now, he was certainly a formidable mastermind.

“Oh? You have a rough idea of my true power?”

[I know enough… We’ve even had drinks together.]

“Cough cough… You are indeed an interesting person.”

The Primordial Void Ruler, who was laughing, responded to me.

“To put it simply… it’s because the trap is too deadly. There’s a high possibility that I could potentially annihilate you, the reincarnated one. No matter how many Mumu divinations you draw, you still have a high chance of dying in the grand scheme of things.”

[…….]

I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t grasp his intentions.

How could he dislike it because the trap was too deadly?

“Well then, what will you do? My offer is only on the table once. If you refuse, I’ll resume the war as it is.”

At that, I snapped, feeling irritated by his slippery words.

[Stop messing around!!]

“Messing around? What do you mean…?”

I pointed at the Primordial Void Ruler with my finger.

[You want me to join forces with you? What makes you think you’re such a big deal?]

“Hmm…?”

[After hiding for so long, now that it seems I’m doing well, you think you can just show up to take advantage? What a joke!! Hong Gyun Do-in arrogantly tried to pull that on me and got stripped of his Hong Meng, so what do you expect?!]

“Oh, Hong Meng!!”

As I mentioned Hong Meng’s power, the Primordial Void Ruler seemed surprised for a moment. Seeing his reaction brought a sigh of relief; my mental tactics had worked.

‘…I really don’t understand what Hong Meng’s power does, and the fact that the Reborn Person has sealed it away inside the Heavenly Secret means I can’t even use it.’

The Primordial Void Ruler and Hong Gyun Do-in were closely related. Naturally, I assumed he would know about the most powerful aspect of Hong Gyun Do-in’s power, so I casually threw that out as a kind of intimidation, but the Primordial Void Ruler’s reaction was more intense than I thought.

I didn’t stop there and arrogantly crossed my arms.

[Do you know why I didn’t go looking specifically for you, Primordial Void Ruler? Whatever you do, you are already out of my interest! If you don’t bow your head and come under me now, I’ll stomp you down even if it takes time!]

“……!!”

[You want to join forces? Don’t kid yourself! I won’t tolerate you being anything less than my subordinate!]

Tremble

The Primordial Void Ruler seemed to feel some humiliation at my words and trembled slightly. I felt a bit guilty, wondering if I had gone too far, but deep down, it made sense to me. For some reason, the Primordial Void Ruler still felt easy to handle, and I sensed I needed to take an aggressive stance.

After a moment, the Primordial Void Ruler gave a twisted smile and said.

“If I obtained Hong Meng… I can understand your attitude now… I can’t imagine what you’ve been through…”

[…….]

“Alright… I’ll become your subordinate. But I have one condition.”

[What condition?]

“If you kill Tsukuyomi, I will devour his soul. How about that?”

…What?

It was such an unexpected request that I could only be dumbfounded.

‘Why is he targeting Tsukuyomi’s soul?’

Surely, there had to be a reason, but for now, I couldn’t figure it out. It didn’t seem to directly concern me, so I thought I might allow it, but soon realized that wouldn’t be wise.

‘…No. Making a promise like that hastily could be disastrous.’

I spoke tersely to the Primordial Void Ruler.

[I think you misunderstood the meaning of a subordinate. A comrade is one thing, but a subordinate shouldn’t impose conditions! If you’re unhappy with that, then let’s just fight it out!]

“Such…!!”

In an instant, I sensed intense killing intent emanating from the Primordial Void Ruler’s eyes. The power radiating from that killing intent was so strong that I couldn’t help but flinch.

‘Cough… Did I go too far?’

As I anxiously thought that, the Primordial Void Ruler sighed after a moment.

“Hmmm… This isn’t easy… Then, very well. I’ll be your subordinate just for this battle, so witness my power and reconsider afterward.”

[Do you really think your presence will change the battle’s tide? If you possess such power, then I might consider it.]

“……”

[What I want is to retreat the celestial realm while shedding as little blood as possible. I’m not about to slaughter and annihilate everyone, so can you do that?]

“Cough cough… This… has been underestimated.”

The Primordial Void Ruler roared with laughter.

“Do you think I can’t handle such a simple task?”

Just then.

Divine Skill

Eternal Frost River Moon

Crash!

Suddenly, the ancient princess Yonggil, who was a blood pillar and an ancient celestial being within the Primordial Void, launched a divine skill attack against the Primordial Void Ruler, freezing him in place. She reached out with cold eyes and shouted.

“It must be completely sealed!”

“I know that!”

Divine Skill

Light of the Azure Dragon

Divine Skill

Natural Law

Both the ancient celestial beings, Nan Gu Xianong and Taoist Master of Moral, stepped in to apply even stronger seals to the ice of the Eternal Frost River Moon. They were beings that existed in the early days of the celestial realm, thus their power was comparable to that of gods, making them capable of ambushing and sealing the Primordial Void Ruler.

The princess Yonggil exclaimed in disbelief.

“Who would have thought the Primordial Void Ruler would be the chaotic entity [Mask] and that he attacked Tai Gong-mang to wear his face… How could this happen?”

[…….]

“Baek Woong! Your evil schemes have been sealed. It’s time to seal you—the one who brought chaos to the world—and restore true order!”

I stared back at princess Yonggil. Scratching my head, I said.

[If sealing the Primordial Void Ruler was so simple, I wouldn’t have had to struggle so much in my previous lifetimes.]

“What…?”

Swish!!

At that moment, from within the ice of Eternal Frost River Moon, a wild aura of darkness exploded forth. It was a mist-like darkness, yet I called it an explosion due to its immense speed at engulfing everything around it. The three ancient celestial beings couldn’t even begin to evade and were trapped within the darkness, which swelled in size at an alarming rate.

And after a moment, a voice of command echoed from within that massive darkness.

[Chaos, arise.]

Pow!

[Graaargh.]

[Ugh.]

As chaos savored the passage of time, devouring everything around it greedily, numerous great immortals and celestial beings screamed in terror. They each attempted to cast techniques to fight back, but it was utterly futile. Of course, how could the power of a mere celestial being stand up against that darkness from beings of a far higher caliber?

‘I’ve seen this scene before…’

As I witnessed the Primordial Void Ruler’s might once again, I felt a shiver run down my spine. I remembered the last time this happened, where the Primordial Void Ruler had stood against all the celestial forces and the Queen Mother of the West.

Thud!

Among the strongest like the Celestial Sage and Xiang Yu, they easily defended and evaded against the Primordial Void Ruler’s darkness. In fact, Jang Sam-bong and Yeodong-bin uniquely counterattacked with their Divine Skill, proving that the Divine Skill could indeed work even against the Primordial Void Ruler.

[Ugh.]

However, excluding some cases like this, all the celestial beings who merely relied on techniques and treasures were absorbed into the chaos without discrimination of power levels. Even Zhongli Quan, among the Eight Immortals of China, wasn’t an exception, as I witnessed vividly with my own eyes.

As I observed that overwhelming might, I realized something.

[Hey!! Who said to kill them all?! If everyone dies, even divine beasts can do that!!]

[Heh heh… You’re too hasty.]

From the heart of chaos, a shape resembling a human face protruded and smiled in a slick manner. That might be seen as the Primordial Void Ruler’s ego giving off an evil grin.

[Those absorbed into my realm of chaos are temporarily sealed in my universe… While they faint, they’ve suffered no harm, so if I wish, I can release them again.]

[……!!]

U… Universe?

Could it be that the darkness of the Primordial Void Ruler’s technique was universe-level?!

As I was flabbergasted by the revelation of his unexpectedly heightened power, it was none other than Eungui, the Three Great Divine Beasts, who launched an enraged remark at the Primordial Void Ruler.

[Primordial Void Ruler! Isn’t that technique the [Universe of the Mask]?!]

[Oh, indeed, a divine beast knowledgeable about all universe techniques.]

[Borrowing the power of the Outer God… The cause of that technique is piling up to allow ‘that being’ to descend into this world! Who would have guessed that you were the being who would bring annihilation to all since the beginning of time…?]

Huh? Wait a minute…

I was momentarily dumbfounded by Eungui’s words but soon grasped what he meant.

‘…Nyarlathotep!!’

The chaos brought by the Primordial Void Ruler was actually summoning the chaos possessed by the Outer God Nyarlathotep!

Of course, with an Outer God’s technique, the celestial beings of the realm could do nothing but succumb entirely. Only high-ranking entities like the Celestial Sage or Xiang Yu could possibly counter, and those proficient in Divine Skill seemed able to fight against it. Furthermore, that technique itself might provide an opportunity for the Outer God Nyarlathotep to intervene in this world, hence Eungui was seemingly falling victim to the Primordial Void Ruler’s technique.

Then, the Primordial Void Ruler smiled ominously.

[Heh heh. It’s not like I can freely use the techniques at my disposal, but it’s a bit frustrating. Due to the restrictions set by Pangu, it means I have to be quite cautious to use this one.]

[Who would believe the words of the chaotic being?]

[But I can promise one thing. Now that I’ve summoned this chaos… the celestial realm will come to an end right here.]

Swoosh

Rumbling

The Primordial Void Ruler’s words were no mere joke. Before I knew it, except for a scant few, nearly all the celestial forces had already been engulfed by his darkness. I couldn’t help but tense up as I watched the chaotic tendrils erupting like a massive whirlwind.

‘He was that powerful… Definitely capable of standing against the essence of the Three Sovereigns.’

If this guy grew stronger, he would be equivalent to the power I had encountered in the Outer Universe with Hong Gyun Do-in. During that time, even Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen had to treat him with respect, which made me keenly aware that this guy was indeed nearing the peak of the [Mask].

In fact, according to the world’s official history, he was none other than the one who ambushed Fuxi to turn him into a Divine Dragon and imprison him!

No one could disagree that the Primordial Void Ruler, who inherited the essence of Hong Gyun Do-in, was genuinely one of the ultimate masterminds.

[Tsukuyomi. Since our alliance is broken, it seems necessary to break your spells as well… ]

Moments later, revealing his human form from within the chaos, the Primordial Void Ruler clasped his fingers and cast another spell.

[Chaos, shatter the thoughts of order and evil!!]

Koooon!!

The next moment, the colossal whirlwind of chaos shot toward the celestial blue moon with tremendous force. The momentum stretching toward the blue moon grew increasingly formidable, morphing into a lance-like form, indicative of the Primordial Void Ruler unleashing all his power.

‘Huh?’

What is he doing? He hasn’t even subjugated the celestial realm yet, so why the sudden attack on the moon?

As I pondered the Primordial Void Ruler’s actions in confusion, just as the chaotic energy was about to strike the blue moon, a massive light erupted from it, transforming its color to a red moon.

Flash…!!

Along with that, the blinding flash of the red moon filled the battlefield!!

While that flash didn’t seem to hold any physical destructive power, what transpired with its exhibition was astonishing.

[……!!]

W-What is this?

As the air changed, I stumbled, feeling a nauseating sensation wash over me. It felt as if the very foundations of the laws constituting this world were shifting, and I simply couldn’t adapt.

‘Some of my energies are amplifying… while others are weakening… this is so disorienting.’

It wasn’t just me feeling this way; for a moment, all the [Old Rulers] and ancient celestial beings present swayed and panicked. They were so shocked that they stopped fighting altogether and entered a state of lull.

After a moment, rebounding from their confusion, the Three Great Divine Beasts regained their senses. The one who first returned to his wits was Eungui, who cheerfully interjected.

[So that’s it… This is Tsukuyomi’s trap?]

[Displeasing yet astounding. There is no other predictable outcome than this.]

Qilin remarked gruffly. I eyed him and felt a sharp dizzying sensation.

[……!!]

Wh-What happened to the Divine Power?!

‘Why?!’

Not only Qilin but also Eungui and the other Divine Beasts radiated a substantially heightened aura than before and their power had increased several times. Just as I was bewildered by the sudden surge of power, it appeared that something was also amiss on the battlefield debriefing the Three Sovereigns.

[Graaargh.]

[W-What is this?! Why has their power weakened?!]

Most of the Zhuge Clans were aghast. It turned out their previously robust chaotic energy had significantly diminished. Moreover, even the Three Sovereigns themselves seemed affected, as Jeon Wook looked extremely displeased and snarled angrily.

[Tsukuyomi… Once all this concludes, I won’t let you off the hook.]

On the other hand, Shennong was brimming with vitality as he burst into laughter.

[Ha ha! Those fools have dug their own grave!]

Rumble!!

Changes also rippled through the battlefield where Tezcatlipoca and Fuxi along with Nüwa were engaged in combat. Tezcatlipoca had been leisurely facing Fuxi and Nüwa, but suddenly began retreating.

Flash!!

Where Fuxi’s axe had brushed by, Tezcatlipoca’s scales broke and charred. It appeared to be several times larger and more fatal than the wounds dealt by Pangu up until now.

‘Could it be…?!’

I could vaguely understand the situation flitting through my mind, but I was too baffled to accept it outright.

And from within the darkness of the substantially shrunk Primordial Void Ruler, a cackling laughter resonated.

[Hehehe… Baek Woong… Do you understand? What trap you must overcome once again.]

[…….]

I spat out my realization after a moment.

[The scales of chaos and order have shifted… chaos weakens while order strengthens!!]

[Correct.]

The reverse of the chaos amplification previously enacted by the Evil God!

In the past, the Evil God directed the world toward a state where chaos grew stronger and order grew weaker, but this time it was flipped. The chaos weakened while order strengthened. It explained why the Three Sovereigns grew stronger while the Five Emperors weakened, and why the Three Great Divine Beasts suddenly grew powerful.

I exploded with fury at the Primordial Void Ruler’s statement.

[You crazy bastard!! You changed the scales? You could’ve just left it be, why mess with it!!]

The characteristics of our comrades, primarily chaos, had instantaneously tilted us toward distress!

[Well… You’re too hasty. To put it another way, there’s no other way to break the spell.]

[What?]

[The one who cast this technique was none other than Tsukuyomi. If we don’t take him out, the scales will always remain tilted in favor of order. Even if I hadn’t changed the scales, Tsukuyomi would have done so shortly.]

The Primordial Void Ruler extended his colossal tendrils and pointed toward the moon in the distance.

[Also, the only time you can eliminate Tsukuyomi is while it has transformed into the red moon. Can you see something hovering in the middle of that moon?]

[……!!]

[I sealed the chaotic energy in the moon as I shifted the scales. Now would be the easiest time to defeat Tsukuyomi.]

I channelled my power, and just as the Primordial Void Ruler indicated, I could see something floating at the center of the red moon.

While I couldn’t clearly discern its precise form, merely seeing its shadow made it evident that it was a divine being.

[Understood.]

From the beginning, the conditions for victory in this battle were crystal clear.

Overcoming these unfavorable circumstances for our side and beheading Tsukuyomi, who was hidden in the red moon, was our objective!