Reincarnation Sword God

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Demon King.

That was the truth about Byeok Jisang that I had heard from Zhuge Sa. Byeok Jisang gazed at me with an unchanging expression despite my words, and I felt a chill from that stare. I hadn’t realized it before, but I now sensed an infinite suppression of desires and emotions in those eyes—far more than even the Sect Leader of the White Lotus. Byeok Jisang seemed to merely observe the phenomenon before him without any emotional involvement.

The gaze of an Absolute Being!

The being known as Byeok Jisang slowly began to speak.

“Your soul’s coexistence is rather uncomfortable to look at. I shall provide you with a temporary body.”

“What?”

Byeok Jisang pointed to a spot in the air with his finger.

Kuruluung

At that moment, a white spirit energy surged out from within me, and the sticky mud on the ground began to rise. The muddy substance eventually took the shape of a figure, slowly morphing into a detailed form. By the time the transformation finished, the appearance of Zhuge Sa in his living days could be seen, with the mud falling away to reveal human skin.

“……!!”

Soon, Zhuge Sa opened his eyes in the temporary body. He had transformed from mud into a human all at once.

I stood there dumbfounded, my mouth agape. No matter how I looked at it, this was a human body! Wasn’t it just the mud on the floor that had come together to form a human shape? It was an inexplicable sorcery that defied human logic. Zhuge Sa smiled and asked Byeok Jisang,

“Is it really okay to use power like this? It seems wasteful.”

“What you are is something I’ve never seen before. This much is nothing…”

Byeok Jisang lightly replied and then turned to me.

“Indeed. I am the first leader of the Baehwa Sect.”

“Hmm.”

“The title of ‘Demon King’… I do find that expression pleasing.”

Byeok Jisang’s true identity had been unveiled. According to Zhuge Sa, the title of ‘Dao King Byeok Jisang’ was merely the human guise used on the surface. His true identity was the first leader of the Baehwa Sect, the master who taught Zhuge Sa the Forbidden Law. Moreover, in ancient times, he had transcended through a massive sacrificial rite and emerged as the Lower Demon God known as the Demon King.

He was described as a famous figure in the Western Regions, especially within demon paths, where his true name was almost legendary.

Yet, even with all that, I found it hard to believe what I was seeing. The fact that Zhuge Sa had lightly extracted his soul and created a new body was astonishing sorcery; however, believing that the being before me was a monster that had existed for over 2,000 years since the dawn of civilization was a stretch.

Byeok Jisang spoke in a dry tone, regardless of my thoughts.

“The fact that you’ve come this far means you intend to continue your contract with me.”

Contract!

At that, Zhuge Sa interjected,

“The form of it is important. If you could make this temporary body last permanently, it would be better to stick to the usual method, but I assume that’s not the case?”

“Correct. That body will last at most a day. After that, the soul will coexist as before.”

Zhuge Sa murmured bitterly,

“Hehe… With your powers, permanent preservation should be possible, yet you’re acting stingy.”

“Offer a sacrifice.”

The calm reply from Byeok Jisang sent a shiver down my spine.

[ Offer a sacrifice. That is fundamental.]

It was the basic requirement demanded by all deities, including Master Mangnyang. It was the procedure that formed the foundation for receiving blessings or protection from gods, but conversely, this mindset could only belong to those who were not deities themselves. Intuitively, I sensed that Byeok Jisang was a divine being or something close to it.

Zhuge Sa said,

“Sacrifices are not a problem. I can create a substitute body. Rather, I want to change the terms of the contract.”

“How?”

“I want to give the position of the current heretical sect leader to this Baek Woong.”

“Eh?”

I was taken aback by the unexpected statement and looked at Zhuge Sa in surprise.

“What do you mean? Isn’t your contract to serve as the heretical sect leader and become Byeok Jisang’s subordinate after death? Why are you giving that to me?”

Indeed, Zhuge Sa had stated that his contract with Byeok Jisang was to enter his service after death, working for him. The confirmation of that contract was structured to be given to him by the next New Year.

So, if I did not undergo a transformation before then, it would be considered a breach of contract, and Byeok Jisang would come to kill me. This was because if there was no will to fulfill the contract, Byeok Jisang would eliminate the heretical sect leader and reclaim the powers he had imparted.

While I had endured hardship to reach the transformation out of fear of dying from this predicament, now Zhuge Sa wished to hand over the position of heretical sect leader to me? I felt my head spinning, suspecting that Zhuge Sa might have pulled a fast one on me, but he chided me.

“Foolish brat. Can’t you handle it even when it’s served on a silver platter?”

“What?”

“Becoming the heretical sect leader gives you the privilege to quickly cultivate the Two Unity Formula that’s only granted to the leader. Did you really think you could cultivate it with your talent without becoming the sect leader?”

“……”

I could feel my anger rising, but I managed to keep my composure.

“Privilege, you say?”

Zhuge Sa suddenly began speaking respectfully to Byeok Jisang.

“Since the terms of the contract have changed, please explain it to Baek Woong.”

“You seem to be quite sincere.”

Byeok Jisang glanced at me and continued,

“Baek Woong. The contents of the contract are as follows: the next heretical sect leader may wield my powers and magic, enhancing their abilities in demon path and sorcery. They may also use techniques exclusive to the heretical sect leader. However, after the heretical sect leader’s death, their soul will belong to me, and they will work for me.”

“Ugh…”

I frowned. No matter how I looked at it, granting powerful abilities and powers in this lifetime while ending up as the servant of an Evil God after death was not a favorable contract! Just as I was about to shout in protest, Zhuge Sa spoke.

“Let’s alter that contract slightly. It will be my soul that is transferred, not Baek Woong’s.”

“Is that alright?”

Zhuge Sa grinned.

“Of course. After all, your goal is to create your own pantheon that can oppose the higher [Ancient Ruler], right? I would be of much more help than someone like him.”

“That much is true.”

Even though they were treating me like a fool, I had no retort. This was because Zhuge Sa was passing along favorable terms only to me while opting for the path of becoming a servant to an Evil God after death. I looked at Zhuge Sa in disbelief.

“Zhuge Sa, what are you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not the type to do just good deeds for me. Tell me what your ulterior motive is!”

When I raised my voice, Zhuge Sa shrugged.

“I had no attachment to life or death anyway. After reading your memories, I realized that this life has even less meaning. So I thought it wouldn’t be bad to leave you with a debt of gratitude. Just don’t get the wrong idea.”

A thought suddenly struck me, and I cautiously replied,

“A debt… what if I ignore it?”

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“If you were that cunning, you wouldn’t have come this far. You would have suffered as some loser long ago and enjoyed wealth and fame with someone else, right? You know that you have to repay what you have received, whether it be in good or bad means…”

“……”

“The choice is yours. What will you do, Baek Woong?”

I pondered over it. Byeok Jisang’s and Zhuge Sa’s gazes were fixed on me. After a long moment of contemplation, I finally spoke.

“I cannot proceed with this contract as it is!”

Byeok Jisang’s cold indifference fell upon me.

“What do you mean?”

“I cannot believe that you, Byeok Jisang, are the being referred to as the Demon King. If you are truly of such status, then show me what your powers can do! Only then will I believe.”

Byeok Jisang crossed his arms and said,

“That’s not difficult. What should I show?”

“That is…”

As I was about to respond, Zhuge Sa urgently conveyed a message.

[ You fool! Stop it!]

[ What?]

[ Do you think that being in front of you, who commands the powers to chant orders of an Outer God, would be friendly to you? The monster that even the wandering Jews feared—the leader of the corrupted Gnosticism? A being who has massacred millions as the King of Heresy?!]

Zhuge Sa vehemently expressed his will.

[ The being before you is at the brink of what a human can achieve in the Demon Path. Every single one of your words and actions demands a horrifying price! If you keep up this foolishness, you’ll end up being an eternal slave!!]

“……”

[ You’ve triggered the law of causality!]

A chill ran down my spine. It seemed that the essence of Byeok Jisang was indeed that of a horrifying Evil God. There was a high probability that speaking carelessly could lead to dire consequences. I waved my hand emphatically and said,

“… No, I withdraw my statement.”

The term “law of causality” terrified me.

“Then shall we proceed with the contract?”

“I wish for that.”

I decided to go along with Zhuge Sa’s words for now. It felt somewhat like being pushed around, but an even stronger intuition warned me that misstepping in my interactions with Byeok Jisang could lead to serious trouble. If Zhuge Sa could be characterized as a minor evil, then I had a feeling that Byeok Jisang represented an indescribable greater evil.

Then, Byeok Jisang grinned oddly and said,

“It’s quite unpleasant not to be trusted. If you truly wish, I can show you proof of my existence.”

Zhuge Sa shouted in haste,

“Enough! Don’t do it!”

Kuruluung…

“Gah!”

Suddenly, Byeok Jisang’s form began to disintegrate. It was as though there had been no such human to begin with—disassembling and disappearing without a trace. Instead, the black particles that constituted his body began to flow towards the altar like a river.

The unholy dark incantation echoed like a beast’s roar. I sensed that it was a language that humans could not pronounce and realized it was closer to that of a different species.

As the darkness deepened, the intense magical energy began to consume the space. In that darkness, I could hear the dark entity that had been called ‘Byeok Jisang’ muttering.

[ O offspring of the Black She-Goat of the Forest… heed my call…]

The ominous chant continued.

Though it was undoubtedly an incantation of another species, I strangely understood its meaning.

[ Bestow upon this land the power of fertility and abundance.]

Paaaat—

A massive dark light swirled and spread out beyond the temple. After a moment, the darkness receded, and I felt as though I was suddenly sharing someone else’s gaze. It was a divine power that originated beyond my will.

Oooooooooo

The vast land known as the Transformation began to be consumed by the Original Night as seen from the high heavens. As the desolate plateau was engulfed in darkness, a thick black haze began to sprout. The seeds of the Demon began to sprout, birthing aberrant creatures that ravenously consumed the energies of the earth.

The world was darkening.

From within the inexplicable and horrifying dark sky, an unholy curse flowed forth.

Gugung

I sensed an earthquake with tectonic shifts descending upon the area of the Transformation. The expansive land, spanning thousands of li, bellowed as it became a realm of demons. I could even feel the dark entities growing spontaneously.

This place was no longer human territory. Nature was losing its power and being absorbed into the part of a great being.

Watching this spectacle, Zhuge Sa shouted at me,

“You damned brat! Do you think everything you see is the entirety? How could a human chant the orders of an Outer God?! That is the being who has attained the utmost in demon arts, the Demon King!”

Suddenly, Zhuge Sa declared,

“@&$^&@ it! Inherit the order of the Mountain Goat! Or I shall summon the lord of the Great Abyss!!”

The odd term that Zhuge Sa used to refer to Byeok Jisang struck me as likely the true name of that darkness. And it seemed that his threat was effective, as I sensed the shared gaze dispersing while the great darkness began to retreat. The Original Night, which had been consuming the thousand li of land known as Transformation, receded almost simultaneously.

Su…

Before long, Byeok Jisang’s human form stood before me once more. Although he wore the same expressionless demeanor, I could no longer think of him as merely human.

That was it.

He had merely created a human body for amusement; the very essence he held was that of the king of demon arts, infinitely close to the [Ancient Ruler]. Neither the Sect Leader of the White Lotus nor even the Twelve Lunar Deities could guarantee that they would defeat this monster before me. As I swallowed hard, Byeok Jisang calmly said,

“You show no fear. How bold of you to mention an Ancient God before me.”

At some point, Zhuge Sa had drawn symbols of the Ancient Gods, the Eight-pointed Star, in blood on his palm. Byeok Jisang seemed to sense that symbol and halted the unfolding of the incantation. Zhuge Sa appeared more tense than ever, clenching his teeth as he said,

“You are the one lacking courage. If other rulers found out that their territories were being invaded, they would not sit idly by.”

“There are few who would dare challenge the authority of the Outer God, the Black Mountain Goat. If you do not speak so presumptuously regarding Ancient Gods…”

“Crack! To pretend to service the Elemental Lord and then switch allegiances—that’s rich…”

Byeok Jisang did not react to Zhuge Sa’s sneer but continued to stare at me expressionlessly.

“What will you do? Will you form the contract?”

“I will.”

I recognized that I had no choice left.

‘ Refusing means death.’

The moment I do not agree to the contract, both Zhuge Sa and I would be rendered worthless humans before the Demon King Byeok Jisang. And as punishment for impeding his pursuits, he would unleash a horrifying curse and magic upon us.

Unless I assembled the Seven Virtues, I had no way to resist an existence like the Lower [Ancient Ruler] that could wield even the powers of an Outer God. If I didn’t want to die horrifically, I had no choice but to establish a symbiotic relationship with him.

After a brief moment, Byeok Jisang finalized the contract and turned away.

“I will see you later.”

Whoosh!

Byeok Jisang scattered into black particles just like before, and it was clear that such a phenomenon could not be termed as a divine law or martial technique—it could only be viewed as the powers of a different species. He was definitely not human.

‘ When he says “later,” he must be referring to after death.’

It was a discomforting farewell in many ways. After Byeok Jisang vanished, Zhuge Sa let out a sigh and addressed me.

“This body will soon disappear as well. Before that, should I check if you’ve received the monk’s power or not?”

“I’ve received the blessing, but I’m not feeling it.”

At that, Zhuge Sa pressed his forehead against me and said,

“Extract your white spirit.”

I attempted to execute the technique for extracting my white spirit as he instructed. Unlike before, when I had fumbled, this time I felt the energy of the white spirit flowing smoothly, and it easily emerged. It was a significant improvement in execution, and I was inwardly surprised as Zhuge Sa commented,

“Every heretical sect leader has been exploited by that entity. Thus, they needed to grow stronger, gather followers, and accumulate sacrifices, and that’s how they received the blessing of enhanced talents.”

“I see.”

It was starting to make sense. Byeok Jisang was a demon sorcerer who had existed since the dawn of time, and he had founded the heretical Baehwa Sect, spreading plausible doctrines.

‘ He truly embodies extreme brutality.’

And as the heretical sect leaders lured followers with sweet words, he had probably devoted himself to the [Ancient Ruler] without lifting a finger, accumulating power over thousands of years until finally forming a contract with the Outer God. Byeok Jisang was undoubtedly the essence of nameless evil.

“Now, your pathetic talents should have improved a bit.”

As I was about to respond, something suddenly crossed my mind,

“That Byeok Jisang became a Demon God as a human, right? So, he should be on par with Qin Shi Huang or Empress Wu Zetian who crossed over to the Dark Lands through the sacrificial rites?”

“Something like that. The difference is the rank of the [Ancient Ruler] he has contracted with.”

Thud

Zhuge Sa’s body gradually began to lose vitality and morph into mud. Soon, his form scattered, and his soul began to re-enter me, coexisting once again.

[ With this, the training for the Two Unity Formula, which would have taken two hundred years, has been reduced to about thirty years. By performing sacrificial rites, it could be shortened to ten years.]

“……”

It didn’t seem to be a joke, but it still irritated me. But before I could voice my annoyance, Zhuge Sa spoke again.

[ What are you doing? There’s no time to waste. Immediately summon the Sacred Beast and head to the Seven Deadly Sins Village.]

“What?”

His following remark was so on point that I found myself speechless.

[ You need to resurrect Yi Cheong-woon, don’t you?]