966——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I couldn’t help but feel quite taken aback by Seong Jin’s sudden appearance.

‘Wha… what? Didn’t this guy die back then?’

If what I experienced in the outer universe aligns with the history of our world – the five disciples of Dalma, including Seong Jin, became the medium through which the Ancient God performed spirit summoning and became trapped in the Four Great Spirit Deities during the True Martial Home era. Since their consciousness had never been revived afterwards, I naturally thought they’d been absorbed into the Four Great Spirit Deities.

What in the world happened?

Seeing my bewilderment, Seong Jin spoke up.

[… The flow of Qi has changed significantly. But this reaction doesn’t seem like the one from someone seeing me for the first time… Do you perhaps already know about me?]

“Flow of Qi, huh?”

[……]

He seems to be suspicious of me for some reason. I thought it wouldn’t be good if he kept looking at me that way, so I decided to change the subject and keep the conversation going.

“I’ll tell you why I could carry on the progress of Master of the Subtle. I met the Divine Thief at the Martial God’s seat…”

I continued speaking calmly. What I shared was about the conditions the Divine Thief placed on his successor, how I achieved that, and how I met Master of the Subtle while being taught by the Divine Thief.

After listening to my story till the end, Seong Jin said:

[Your words don’t feel like lies.]

“Alright. Now it’s your turn to tell me something.”

[The seat of the Martial God, huh… So you too…]

Seong Jin fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

[You said Baek Woong, right? Claiming to have inherited the progress from the Divine Thief of the Soul Removal Technique means you’ve gained the qualification to lead our Ghostly Spirit Sect. Do you understand this?]

“Master of the Subtle said that, too. What’s the story behind it?”

[… Master of the Subtle and I had a significant showdown.]

Huh?

Caught off guard by his unexpected statement, I looked at Seong Jin, who continued.

[I have lived since before the Four Great Families started… and I’ve gone to great lengths to create a powerful White Lotus Sect. I intended to pass on not only martial arts but also sorcery within the Four Great Families. However, my movements were discerned by the Thunder God Lineage’s Grand Master, and I battled for decades in the shadows to gain the upper hand.]

“……!!”

[Eventually, I got caught by Master of the Subtle and had to duel him. After losing, I was told to never disrupt the Four Great Families again and to hide my faction.]

“Did you want to take the White Lotus Sect for yourself in the past?”

Seong Jin readily nodded at my question.

[Yes. But since I failed, I put my plans on hold and have lived as the head of a minor faction passing down sorcery in the shadows. I chose to sleep in the darkness of the Four Great Families.]

“… Why are you so obsessed with sorcery?”

Something feels off.

This guy is an incredible sorcerer. He might even be on par with or exceed Cheon Woo-jin’s skills. Why is he so fiercely clinging onto sorcery amidst his obsession with the Thunder God Lineage and the Four Great Families? If that guy was free, conquering the Martial World wouldn’t even be a challenge!

[……]

Seong Jin didn’t answer that question. It seemed to touch on something deeply rooted within him. Instead, he said:

[Master of the Subtle also demanded that should a true master of the Ultimate Soul Removal Technique arise, both I and the Ghostly Spirit Sect would have to submit to him. Because that person would truly be the Grand Master of the Thunder God Lineage.]

“Hmm… I see.”

[Since you’ve mastered the Ultimate Soul Removal Technique, I will fully cooperate with you as promised by Master of the Subtle and allow you to use everything of the Ghostly Spirit Sect. I will recognize you as the Grand Master of the Thunder God Lineage.]

I felt a significant achievement bloom within me. I was finally getting the opportunity to approach the true essence of the Ghostly Spirit Sect, shrouded in darkness. If I could uncover their history and real martial arts secrets from here on out, I could progress even further.

However, I felt more confused than happy. So, I asked Seong Jin:

“Seong Jin.”

[Speak.]

“You… haven’t seen me before, have you?”

[……?]

Seong Jin’s face was obscured by his disheveled hair, but I could easily tell he was puzzled. After a moment, he replied.

[No…]

“Really?”

[Yes. I’ve never seen someone like you before.]

It seems he might be telling the truth. He could be pretending, but if this Seong Jin is indeed the one I met in the outer universe, he wouldn’t be able to keep up such a charade. Given that I imparted martial arts to Seong Jin and the other disciples of Dalma and was there until the very end of the True Martial Home, I should at least try to find out the truth. It’s possible he could be plotting while pretending not to know me, but somehow I don’t feel that’s the case.

‘What happened?’

Does it mean that what happened in the outer universe has concluded as such there?

Is it an event entirely separate from this world?

I pondered deeply but felt I couldn’t reach a conclusion just yet. So, I decided to resolve another question first.

“Then why have you been talking solely in the Six Harmonies Assembly since earlier? Don’t tell me you became anotherworldly like the Su Shin Sect and lost your human voice?”

Seong Jin spoke smoothly with a clear voice.

“No. It’s just a habit.”

“Mm!”

“When you operate the Ghostly Spirit Sect in the shadows, there are many times you need to hide your identity. As a result, I developed a habit of using the Six Harmonies Assembly.”

Hearing that voice, I realized that while it had grown a bit rough and coarse, it was the same voice I remembered from the past. Confirming the similarity of the voice threw me into confusion once more.

So, unable to contain myself, I almost blurted out a crucial question to Seong Jin.

‘You were there during the True Martial Home, right?! And you’re one of Dalma’s disciples!’

… But now is not the time for that.

I understood that asking that question would cast tremendous doubt on Seong Jin. Because something in what he said earlier stuck with me.

There’s no guarantee that you’re not a subordinate of the Evil God.

That means he’s currently suspicious that I may be a powerful Old Ruler or a minion of an Outer God. It also implies that he perceives them as his primary enemies and sees everything in this world with suspicion. As long as he doubts me, Seong Jin would never share genuine information.

‘Should I just give him the obsidian?’

That would certainly be the simplest solution. If he learns I’m a Reborn Person, things would only go smoothly from there. However, not knowing Seong Jin’s history and true intentions increases the risk of being blindsided.

After weighing my options, I decided to use words to ease Seong Jin’s suspicions first.

“Seong Jin. As you can see, I can summon the Vajra and touch it. If you know that the Four Great Spirit Deities have a connection to magical power, you should understand I’m not a subordinate of the Evil God.”

“So you want me to trust you?”

“Yeah. Simply handing over the Ghostly Spirit Sect is insufficient. In the end, it’s more important that you trust me, the one who has built that faction over the course of a thousand years.”

As I spoke, a glimmer sparked in Seong Jin’s eyes through his disheveled hair.

“The truly evil beings can conspire by moving others without using their own hands… And I already understand such beings. I’ve experienced it firsthand. Depending on the method, even if the Vajra wouldn’t incinerate it, you could still be a servant of the Evil God.”

“……”

“I can’t genuinely trust you. The only reason I’m honoring the promise made with Master of the Subtle is because you, Baek Woong, have come back with the Four Great Spirit Deities.”

“If you don’t even trust someone who’s returned with the Four Great Spirit Deities, what do you want to achieve from this?”

“That’s not your concern.”

Damn it! Is this really how far he’s going to take it?

I would have loved to stuff the memory of the obsidian down his throat and force him to comply.

‘Stay calm… If I rush things… I could mess this up and end up dead over a missed opportunity!’

But I hold myself back and said.

“Seong Jin! What do you think about the True Martial Home?”

First, through this question, I wanted to gauge Seong Jin’s intentions. I needed to assess his stance before deciding whether or not to give him the obsidian. Upon hearing the term ‘True Martial Home,’ Seong Jin’s expression brightened, and he responded.

“It’s an unachieved dream…”

“What do you mean?”

“And why are you suddenly asking me that? What do you consider the True Martial Home?”

I answered based on what I heard and felt.

“I believe True Martial Home is the destruction of the world and the end of the chaos. It’s the ultimate ritual to eliminate all Old Rulers.”

“… Oh…”

“I think it wouldn’t be a problem if the True Martial Home comes to be. Although, it can’t just be like this.”

“……”

Seong Jin’s demeanor shifted noticeably. Although it was a brief exchange, my words seemed to spark something in him. After a short while, he asked:

“What do you mean by it can’t just be like this?”

I replied firmly.

“If the True Martial Home is conducted the way Dalma designed, the Old Rulers will vanish, but the Outer Gods, who are a higher existence, will still comfortably circulate through the world. That’s why we have to find a way to eliminate even the Outer Gods!”

“……!!”

Seong Jin seemed shocked, trembling as he took a moment to process what I said.

“How… do you know this…”

“Seong Jin. I am sincerely trying to save this world no matter what. For that, I’m prepared to overturn the world alongside my companions, not just the Thunder God Lineage. I hope you can wholeheartedly help me.”

“How do you know the truth of the True Martial Home?”

Seems to be working. I felt like I managed to pique Seong Jin’s interest and trust, even if only a little. I then pulled out the obsidian from my pocket and handed it to him. As Seong Jin stared intently at the obsidian, I spoke slowly.

“This obsidian is a technique that transmits memories. If you accept it, I’ll share my memories with you.”

“… Alright.”

“But promise me one thing. After receiving my memories, you will tell me the truth about what you know and agree to trust me.”

“That depends on the content.”

“Hah.”

I handed the obsidian to Seong Jin, who took it in his hand. Then I transmitted my memories through the obsidian.

Whoa!!

“……!!”

Seong Jin looked momentarily lost as he absorbed my memories as a Reborn Person. He then said:

“A Reborn Person… No way…”

The next words astonished me even more.

“Baek Woong, you’re the same being as Master Dalma…”

What?!

I exclaimed in surprise, “Wha-What do you mean? If I’m the same being as Dalma…”

“Just as you think.”

Sssss

Seong Jin suddenly formed a hand sign and transformed from his disheveled appearance into a neat young man. And that appearance resembled Seong Jin during his days as Dalma’s disciple in the outer universe. It seemed he had transformed using some sort of transformation technique.

He continued speaking with a slightly gloomy expression.

“Master Dalma, my teacher, was a Reborn Person like you. An existence that repeated their life from a certain point, gaining tremendous power through accumulation… But he attempted the True Martial Home and ended up failing, thus perishing.”

“……!!”

Something… something’s clicking in my head.

‘The reason Master Dalma had power comparable to the Three Sovereigns… The reason he gained the mark of 666 by making contracts with countless Rulers… And the reason he possessed unfathomable knowledge of magic…’

Is it because he pursued the Demon Path as a Reborn Person?!

Feeling dazed with a sense of realization, Seong Jin continued.

“Baek Woong. What you witnessed in the outer universe is quite different from reality. However, as you saw, I was indeed that person’s disciple… The methodology he pursued in the True Martial Home is almost identical in both the outer universe and reality.”

“Do you truly not know me?”

Seong Jin shook his head gently.

“Exactly. I don’t know you… Although you taught martial arts to me and my peers in the outer universe, there’s no such event in our history. Also, many incidents leading to the True Martial Home are different… because you didn’t even exist.”

“Then that business of defeating the Old Ruler, Tezcatlipoca…”

“That never happened in history. That was entirely an event that occurred in the outer universe. It was solely your achievement.”

“……”

I found myself increasingly convinced that the events of the outer universe were unrelated to reality. Seong Jin then slowly spoke.

“My teacher informed us that he had reincarnated at least over a thousand times… In contrast, you, Baek Woong, are currently on your 28th. For a Reborn Person, that’s quite a low number.”

“A thousand?! That’s an insane amount…”

“Even that isn’t much. There are so many powerful beings throughout heaven and earth that my teacher always lamented about his lack of strength…”

After falling silent for a moment, Seong Jin bowed his head low and said,

“Baek Woong. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. As a disciple of Master Dalma, I will fully cooperate and trust you as a fellow Reborn Person. Allow me to assist you.”

Has Seong Jin become my comrade in rebirth?

I achieved what I wanted, but the confusion made me wave my hands dismissively.

“… Fine. But right now, that’s not the important part… Didn’t you and the other disciples become offerings to summon the Ancient God and fade away?”

A somber light flickered in Seong Jin’s eyes.

“That almost happened for real. My peers and I were ready to face death back then. We thought we’d die for the world. But…”

“What happened then?”

“Fuu… As we approached the final phase of the True Martial Home… It should have resulted in the apocalypse of the world as you saw in the outer universe…”

Seong Jin took a slow breath.

“The Coming Chaos intervened. That was the true event that transpired in history…”