NOVEL NEXT Ch 91
Chapter 90
The moment of reincarnation (Change), a being loses the status and characteristics of the human species in an instant.
All the existence power gained through reincarnation is also erased.
This means that the emergence of Constellations from the human race is no longer possible.
“The way humans can cultivate existence without relying on reincarnation is through martial arts and Taoist techniques (Taoist arts). These are the most efficient methods for surpassing the fixed lifespan,” Jo Hwi explained, and all of his companions silently nodded in agreement.
The main reason he had chosen to reincarnate in this Middle Kingdom era.
Had it not been for the legacy of the Three Gods (Three Gods), Jo Hwi would never have been able to awaken again. “Of course, in the ultra-future world, genetic engineering can also transcend lifespans. But that world already operates under the Law of Reincarnation, making reincarnation meaningless there.”
At that moment…
Wooooooo-
A huge, ominous sound, like a gloomy prelude, echoed across the vast sky.
The sound resembled the buzzing of a swarm of bees, or the anguished wailing of a crowd in pain.
“Siddhartha!”
From the cracks that had opened wide, an unimaginable presence began to emanate.
At Dan Cheon-yang’s scream, Jo Hwi nodded as though he understood.
An endlessly familiar yet ominous scene.
As Jo Hwi gradually raised his presence, Dan Cheon-yang’s face turned pale with extreme shivers.
“Good heavens!”
This was not the Siddhartha he knew.
At the very least, the power he now exuded was more than three times stronger than the Siddhartha he had known.
“How many more times have you reincarnated since then, Siddhartha?”
Finally, the beginning of the great Constellation war!
Zztztztztztztztz-
Countless Constellations rushed into the crack all at once.
For the Constellations to leave their dimensional realms and invade the material worlds of the lower beings was something the “laws” did not permit.
Naturally, the souls of the entire universe trembled in fear and cursed their names, whispering them in terror.
Wooooh-
Wooooh-
As the muttering, akin to sorcery from the Taoists, echoed across their world, Jo Hwi’s companions were thrown into extreme agitation.
“W-What is that sound?”
“Ughhh!”
The fear and eerie presence spreading throughout the universe was a kind of terror and ghostly energy that could not be explained unless one experienced it directly.
The intensity of that fear was so overwhelming that Zhegalun was momentarily reminded of death.
However, Namgung Jangho, ever the descendant of a royal family, remained calm and resolutely stirred his fighting spirit.
He then seized the specially crafted giant sword made to match his enlarged body and hurled himself toward the crack like a projectile.
“Namgung-hyung! Stop!”
Despite Jo Hwi’s plea, Namgung Jangho ignored it and struck the crack, raising the giant sword high.
Boom boom boom boom boom-
A tremendous wave of his immense willpower poured out through the giant sword.
If we were to measure the sheer volume of willpower, it would surpass even that of the Absolute Realm!
With the added divine power of a giant, it felt as though one was witnessing an ancient myth’s giant race in real life.
If it weren’t for Jo Hwi, who could stop this giantized Namgung Jangho’s Imperial Sword form in this age?
Swish!
As Namgung Jangho continuously unleashed the Imperial Sword form’s transfer technique, a massive cluster of will-shaped sword energy surged towards the crack in relentless waves.
“W-What is this?!”
Yeom Sang-rok blinked in bewilderment.
At a glance, the clusters of sword energy were of overwhelming power.
But even as a thunderous sound shook the heavens and the earth, the attack suddenly subsided without a sound.
It was as if Namgung Jangho’s powerful will-shaped sword energy was being absorbed into the crack, like fine cotton soaking up water.
“Physical attacks are useless!”
Jo Hwi’s cold declaration caused Namgung Jangho to lower his giant sword in a daze, staring at the crack.
Indeed, it would be laughable if such a dimensional crack created by the combined forces of the entire universe’s Constellations could be so easily destroyed.
At that moment, the anguished cries of souls from across the universe suddenly ceased.
In the vast sky, a huge tear in the fabric of space began to reveal monstrous Constellations, the terrifying beings, one by one.
Ugh!
Namgung Jangho’s massive form staggered.
It was a feeling of soul-crushing terror, as if his entire being was endlessly falling into an abyss.
Just looking at it was enough to break one’s sanity.
Namgung Jangho trembled, unable to believe what he was witnessing.
“How…!”
His bleak gaze shifted to the hand gripping the giant sword.
Shudder, shudder.
A swordsman’s hand trembling before an enemy signified unworthiness to wield a sword.
That overwhelming emotion was shared by Jo Hwi’s other companions, as well as the generals and elders of the military council.
Even Mu Huang, who had lived as the leader of the martial world, looking down upon all, trembled with a pale face.
The pupils of Mu Huang, constantly shaking, scanned the terrifying figures of the Constellations emerging from the vast rift.
“Hah…”
The Constellations took various unimaginable forms.
Among them were those that resembled humans, but most were in forms that could scarcely be considered living beings.
At the forefront of these Constellations were two whose presence was most dominant.
A bloodshot eye with viscous, milky white pus endlessly dripping from it.
A massive creature cloaked in black flames.
Jo Hwi’s companions, gazing at the giant eyeball floating in the sky and the serpent-like creature with its endlessly extended body, could hardly believe what they were seeing.
Soon, the two Constellations cast an enormous shadow and began flying slowly toward Jo Hwi.
“Siddhartha, it’s no different this time, is it?”
“Yes.”
Jo Hwi glared at the two Constellations flying towards him, his expression twisted into a cruel smile.
“That damned eyeball is still the same.”
The enormous bloodshot eye seemed to tremble in recognition, shaking its body as it scattered the milky white pus in all directions.
Jo, the one who denies existence! Wait! Give this ‘watchful eye’ just a moment!
The bloodshot eye, the “watchful eye,” did not tremble in greeting.
It was a reaction of extreme fear and terror!
Just as Jo Hwi’s companions felt fear when looking at the Constellations, the Constellations felt the same when they encountered the one who “denies existence.”
Before the one who denies existence, the number or strength of the Constellations held no meaning.
If he wills it, every Constellation here would immediately be reduced to nothing.
“Speak.”
At Jo Hwi’s command, the two Constellations, relieved, finally revealed their intention.
“We propose a deal to you!”
Jo Hwi silently turned to the north.
“Yes. It has begun.”
As expected.
From the far northern sky, the Great Heavenly Star, riding on Cloud Griller—or rather, the ancient steed, Kunlun—was flying toward them.
The sight of the Great Heavenly Star descending to the ground was nothing short of devastating.
“Ugh! Master! It was beyond my capabilities! Even with my demonic power, which has evolved to near Heavenly Demon Force, I couldn’t stop that headless being! Who is he?!”
Jo Hwi silently gazed at him without giving a response.
The probability of the Great Heavenly Star surviving after facing the rift and battle was close to zero.
That being was more powerful than any Constellation in the universe, except for Jo Hwi.
Jo Hwi gritted his teeth, his lips trembling in frustration.
The intention behind letting the Great Heavenly Star escape was clear.
“You must have brought the being’s message.”
“Master! How did you know?”
Jo Hwi’s cold and solitary gaze turned toward the Great Heavenly Star.
“What did the message say?”
The Great Heavenly Star swallowed hard before answering.
“He’s already consumed tens of millions.”
In an instant, an unimaginable presence erupted from Jo Hwi’s entire being.
Jo, the one who denies existence!
Oooohhh!
The Constellations, who had begun forming endless ranks under the vast rift, all grew wary of Jo Hwi.
The colossal dragon, facing Jo Hwi, trembled and lowered its body, its massive wings fluttering as if in anguish.
The one who denies existence! I can feel it! His harvest bag hasn’t emptied! The souls of the human race he consumed have not been obliterated yet! Let’s negotiate! Let’s make a deal!
Jo Hwi’s lips curled into a sneer.
“How cute. Lying without batting an eye. I already know you’re sharing the harvest bag with that rift creature.”
How…?!
“You fools. Do you really think that he will share the flesh and souls of the human race with you?”
Jo Hwi continued to gaze at the closing dimensional rift, his face emotionless.
“Now, it begins.”
In that moment, a radiance, as bright as sunlight, erupted from Jo Hwi’s body.
Whoosh!
The enormous bloodshot eye, “The Watchful Eye,” vanished without a trace.
Nooo!
The dragon, screaming in terror, was calmly observed by Jo Hwi.
“Now, you can no longer return to the Constellation Realm.”
The dragon’s massive body trembled again.
To reopen the rift, the “Watchful Eye’s” role was crucial.
How could the one who denies existence know this?
“Now, time for some threats.”
What…?
The dragon’s eyes, filled with confusion, were met with Jo Hwi’s dismissive smile as he turned away.
“Farewell.”
Crack!
The dragon’s enormous head exploded like a watermelon.
As the gruesome fragments fell toward the ground, a long, jagged tear appeared in place of the exploded head, and soon, a rift opened.
Huuuhh…
A bizarre voice flowed from the crack.
Jo Hwi’s face turned colder than ever.
It was a confrontation with the “Harvesting Rift,” which concealed its existence so thoroughly.
He was the only “undeniable existence.”
“To think you would believe so easily that the harvest bag would be shared, even after your head was blown off.”
Though immortals like the dragon wouldn’t truly be destroyed, losing its head would mean it would take thousands of years for it to recover its full power.
Long time no see.
Jo Hwi clenched his fist with a crushing force.
He had been constantly tracking the language of the rift, but the true body of the being was nowhere to be found.
Even the words of the rift were lies.
Then, Jo Hwi’s cold voice echoed.
“Perfect as always. Through the sweet temptation of sharing the harvest bag, you must have planted your ‘rift’ into the bodies of countless Constellations. I would have spent all my time tracking them down.”
…
“As I obsessively hunted the Constellations, you must have been devouring the souls and flesh of humans using another rift elsewhere. But now, what will you do? You can no longer return to the Constellation Realm. As you drift through the material world, no matter how many human souls you devour, the Creators will erase you.”
As expected.
“What?”
You are the one who governs time. Have you already experienced all of this once before?
Jo Hwi said nothing.
Thus, the Rift laughed.
Then I’m relieved. The fact that you are here, in this time and space, means that everything up until now has been a failure.
The long crack above the dragon’s neck curved strangely, resembling a human smile.
You have never found my true form.
The Rift’s words weren’t worth arguing, but they were not wrong either.
If it had been possible to find the true form of that insane being, the countless Constellation Wars would have ended with his victory long ago.
“Yet, you haven’t won either.”
The fact that the Constellations had hidden the key being, who played a crucial role in reopening the dimensional rift, among their emissaries, was a surprisingly clever move.
But Jo Hwi had perfectly understood the role of the “Watchful Eye” through the countless Constellation Wars that had repeated infinitely.
By nullifying his presence, the Constellations would have no choice but to negotiate with him.
No matter how much he increased his power in the material world, if he could not return to the Constellation Realm, it was all for nothing.
This was the best conclusion he had arrived at after countless trials and errors.
As long as you cannot find me, you will have to repeat this war infinitely. There is no winner or loser in this eternal parallel. How long do you plan to drag on this meaningless war?
The Rift trembled with a sinister laugh.
The Constellations have invaded the material realm this much, so soon the Creators will intervene. Yes! In the end, we and you will have no choice but to “negotiate.”
“……”
Jo Hwi once again felt that the Rift’s schemes and wisdom were no less than his own.
Suddenly, Jo Hwi’s indifferent gaze shifted toward the vast sky.
He could clearly sense it.
The majestic energy descending slowly, the presence of the Creators.
Soon, the Creators would propose a negotiation between both sides, and that negotiation would ultimately lead to humanity accepting the “Law of Rebirth,” the only path to prevent their extinction.
But what if he refused the proposal again?
The moment the negotiation broke down, the Rift would immediately hide and devour the souls and flesh of all humans on Earth, and only a few humans, hiding in underground shelters like during the “Water Extinction,” would survive, struggling to preserve civilization.
What if he accepted the proposal?
As with the “Law of Forgetfulness,” the “Law of Rebirth” would permeate the entire human race.
Thus, reincarnation would become entirely meaningless, and humanity would once again walk the path of the weak, a subservient race trapped in the cycle of inevitable extinction.
They would fall eternally into the hands of the Constellations, becoming their playthings and amusements.
In reality, no matter what choice he made, it would ultimately be his defeat.
Up until now, Jo Hwi had not taken a single step forward in this eternal dilemma.
“Siddhartha.”
Jo Hwi, having noticed the dark expression on Dancheonyang’s face, firmly shook his head.
“I know what you are about to say, Kalima.”
There was one perfect plan to find the true form of the Rift.
The Constellation Wars—the only way to break this horrific cycle of extinction.
It was a method that countless strategists had advised and pressured him to carry out, but he had never been able to execute it.
Jin Ga-hee, no, Ye-wah, also approached Jo Hwi, her demonic energy tinged with blood, but with determination.
“No.”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear it.”
“You must do it.”
“……”
In that instant, the energy Jo Hwi had been emitting shifted entirely into a temper of anger.
“If the only way to turn all humans into nothingness is by my hand, then what’s the point of this Constellation War?”
The long crack of the Rift twisted into an interesting curve.
Hoh…?
The Rift immediately understood the true meaning behind Jo Hwi’s words.
Erasing the existence of every human being on this planet, one by one.
The strategists of the one who denies existence were saying that this was the only way to find his true form.
Indeed, it’s clean and certain. That method is not wrong. But what now? You, the one with the universe’s most powerful presence, could turn even the Constellations into nothingness in an instant. The moment you unleash your presence, perhaps humans will not even get a chance for reincarnation, and will simply be obliterated. Ha ha! In the end, is it not you who will bring about the extinction of the human race?
Jo Hwi had examined countless possible scenarios over an unimaginable span of time in order to find the true form of the Rift.
Now, there was only one remaining choice.
To project his power that denies existence onto all humans on this land.
However, if he were to do so, what meaning would his desperate struggle to prevent the disasters of extinction have had up until now?
At that moment.
Oooohhh…!
The presence of the great one…?
The Constellations, arrayed endlessly across the sky, began to stir all at once.
The reason was simple—Jo Hwi’s immense presence had disappeared in an instant.
The Constellations, who had lowered their guard before the vast Constellation army, failed to understand Jo Hwi’s intentions immediately.
What does this mean?
The Rift’s thick question.
It too seemed to be flustered, focused on figuring out Jo Hwi’s intentions.
“Siddhartha…”
“Nua…”
An indescribable sadness lingered on the faces of Dancheonyang and Jin Ga-hee.
Jo Hwi.
Once again, he was sacrificing himself to protect humanity.
Then, a surprising voice emerged from Jo Hwi’s lips.
“Eat me, Rift.”
The Rift, obviously flustered, stammered.
Wha-what did you say?
Jo Hwi smiled knowingly.
“If you consume my spirit, flesh, and presence, what kind of being will you become?”
-…
“If you devour all the reincarnating humans, your presence will naturally become immense. But you should know the difference between eating all humans and eating me.”
This was not a question that required much thought.
The one who denies existence.
The only Constellation that controls time, it was unimaginable how long this being had honed its presence.
The Infinite Existence.
A being who, though acting as a Constellation, had reached the level of a Creator.
Even in front of the countless Constellations, he was an absolute being, capable of negotiating alone in the vast universe.
…You truly intend to let me eat you?
“Indeed. Don’t hesitate, just eat.”
“Siddhartha…”
Just as in the past, Jo Hwi was once again sacrificing himself for the world of humans.
But it’s far too dangerous for a Constellation to consume another Constellation!
Jo Hwi slowly nodded.
“True. Constellations are immortal. No one can predict what will happen.”
Jo Hwi turned toward the Rift, who had been silently listening, and declared loudly.
“But right now, I am here.”
Could it be…?
Jo Hwi nodded willingly.
“Right. I’ve already been consumed countless times by you.”
Ooooh…!
The Rift trembled faintly.
The reason Constellations cannot consume one another is because mixing the presence of immortals carries significant risks.
However, this meant that Jo Hwi had easily assimilated the presence of the one who denies existence.
In a situation where anything could happen, Jo Hwi’s words carried immense persuasion.
You too are immortal and will continue life, but… I really can’t understand. You will definitely lose much of your presence—why would you do this?
Jo Hwi scoffed.
“Well, once again, I’ll drift aimlessly in the void for thousands of years, slowly losing all my memories. Even if I recover my presence and reincarnate, it’s uncertain whether I’ll be able to awaken as a Constellation again. I’ll have to go through countless lifetimes, collecting karma and returning.”
-…
Though he spoke so casually, the Rift shuddered in fear.
Losing all of one’s presence and drifting in that damn void for thousands of years! The loneliness of losing one’s memories so slowly over such a long period was unimaginable.
There must be a condition.
Jo Hwi silently nodded.
“Protection. You must become the guardian of humanity. With your Constellation name and oath, you must declare it here.”
What?
A Constellation who reaches such a status, when revealing their name and binding oath, cannot have their vow broken or lose its effectiveness.
In other words, it would become forbidden to consume humanity, and in fact, the Rift would have to protect them from the amusement of the other Constellations.
“Don’t like it? If you don’t, then go ahead and turn all those Constellation armies into nothing. I won’t care if you hide and devour all the humans. After all, as long as you can’t return to the Constellation Realm, your fate will be the same as humanity’s.”
At that moment, the Rift realized the terror of Jo Hwi’s words.
This was the best result of countless lifetimes that the one who denies existence had meticulously planned.
In the face of such thorough planning, the Rift could not resist Jo Hwi’s temptation.
An offer I cannot refuse.
A small laugh.
“It’s the basics of a merchant. Offering an irresistible proposition to the other side.”
With those words, Jo Hwi tightly shut his mouth.
His companions gazed at his lonely eyes, sinking into an endless despair.
To drift for thousands of years in the void of the universe with only consciousness remaining…
How many countless times has Jo Hwi endured such unimaginable pain up until now?
Is humanity really a species worthy of such sacrifices and blessings from that great Constellation?
The influence his companions were feeling toward him now was similar to what humans in the past had felt.
Long ago, humans created countless religions in honor of the sacrifice of the one who denies existence.
“Damn it! Quit it! Who would be thankful if you just died alone, so nobly?”
Clang!
Yeom Sang-rok drew his twin swords, shouting as though he would leave.
“Hell no! Whether that monster chews me up or not, that’s my fate! Stop the nonsense and kill all those Constellations!”
Mu Hwang, too, gripped his ancient sword and took a step forward.
“The bastard of the side faction is giving the old fool a lesson of sudden enlightenment! Right! Truly right! The death of a warrior is something they decide for themselves!”
Jang Il-ryong, seemingly ready for hand-to-hand combat, took off his shirt.
“Kheheheh!”
Chang Cheon-sin-gum, drawing his spear, shouted.
“Great Namgung! Open the formation!”
At that moment, awakened ones from all over Central Plains began to gather, responding eagerly.
Boom!
Defeat the enemy!
Protect Central Plains!
Indeed, the entire human race was igniting the “flame of humanity.”
Their long-time guardian, Nüwa, swallowed her bitter tears and stepped forward onto the battlefield.
Someone cried out.
“It’s Nüwa! The Three Sovereigns!”
Waaahhh!
The morale of the gathered people from the Central Plains surged like a tidal wave, pressing the Constellation army back.
Jo Hwi looked at Nüwa with sad eyes and quietly muttered.
“We don’t have much time. Make a decision quickly.”
In that moment.
From the long, torn gap, the words of the Constellation echoed.
The Rift, who incessantly uttered words like a chant, declared the protection of humanity in his true name. As he did so, a brilliant golden light, symbolizing the laws of the universe, began to descend from the heavens.
The descent of the golden light, a symbol of the laws of the universe, meant that all the Creators had given their approval.
Soon, an unimaginable presence surged from the Rift’s long gap.
Constellations! Stop advancing!
At that moment, the Constellation army, which had been on the verge of clashing with the awakened ones from the Central Plains, collectively withdrew their combat will.
Jo Hwi could feel the confusion of the Constellations through their various reactions.
This was understandable, as the presence of the Rift, who had devoured the flesh and spirit of millions of humans, far surpassed their imaginations.
Excluding the ‘Creators’ and the ‘One Who Denies Existence,’ no one in the Constellations had ever demonstrated such an immense presence.
Soon, all the Constellations looked up at the brilliant golden light shining under the sky, bewildered.
What is happening all of a sudden?
Are they giving protection?
Has the Rift become the guardian of humanity?
The chaos within the Constellation ranks spread uncontrollably.
If the Rift hadn’t provided them with the information and plan, their invasion of this dimension would have failed from the start.
The leader, who had suddenly changed his stance and declared himself the protector of humanity under the Constellation’s divine name, had turned into the enemy in the blink of an eye!
With a presence close to that of a Creator, and the immortality of reincarnating humans joining the fray, it was already an overwhelming situation.
And to make matters worse, their leader had now sided with humanity!
Even if they won, the expected damage would be enormous.
The worst part was that the ‘watchful eye,’ which had been taken care of by Jo Hwi, had essentially been destroyed.
Even if they won the war, without the watchful eye, they would not be able to create dimensional rifts again, meaning they could never return to the Constellation Realm.
In the end, they would be left in the far corners of the universe, awaiting the punishment of the Creators.
Denying the ‘laws’ was an act that would incur the wrath of the Creators.
Ultimately, the Constellation army realized their defeat and could only gaze at Jo Hwi with empty eyes.
The ability to summon the ‘watchful eye’ back to its original form by negating the will of the one who denies existence was Jo Hwi’s power.
Without his mercy, they would be left to wait for the punishment of the Creators in this forgotten corner of the universe.
A faint laugh.
But Jo Hwi had no intention of summoning that cursed eyeball again.
With a mocking smile directed at the Constellations, Jo Hwi slowly walked toward the Rift and released all of his power.
The Rift had kept his promise by even using his own name, and now it was Jo Hwi’s turn to respond.
I don’t understand why you’re going this far. What value do these lower beings, humanity, have for a cosmic existence capable of negotiating directly with the Creators? Why would you sacrifice yourself for them?
“Stop talking and eat me already.”
With those words, Jo Hwi closed his eyes and fell silent.
The Harvesting Rift felt unreal.
To have the opportunity to consume such a cosmic being—was this really happening to him?
If he could fully absorb his spirit and body, he too would become a great creator capable of creating dimensions and worlds.
Szzzzzz—
The rift began to open.
From the gap, an indescribably terrifying energy flowed out, and Namgung Jangho rushed forward with an incantation.
“What the hell is this!?”
Chwack!
Namgung Jangho’s massive body was forcefully thrown back as if something blocked him.
An intangible barrier, emanating a terrifying energy, surrounded Jo Hwi.
“Brother Namgung.”
A natural smile appeared on Jo Hwi’s face as he looked at Namgung Jangho.
Namgung Jangho’s voice rang out, full of screams.
“You madman! Is death a joke!?”
The pain of having one’s spirit and flesh torn apart and consumed alive was something Jo Hwi had experienced firsthand.
Why, then, could he smile and willingly offer his spirit and body for this, despite the fear of the pain that humans would suffer?
“This isn’t the end, right!? How long are you planning to keep repeating this madness?”
Clearly, this foolish man would keep reincarnating for the sake of humans, sacrificing himself again and again, just like today.
Just by looking at the faces of Jin Gahee and Dan Cheonyang, intertwined with his past lives, it was clear.
Their faces were filled with endless sorrow and misery.
“Brother Namgung.”
But Jo Hwi’s expression was strange.
Namgung Jangho, who had watched Jo Hwi for so long, instinctively sensed that he still had a plan.
That guy hadn’t given up yet.
“Hmph! Do as you like!”
With that, Namgung Jangho stepped back.
The rift, that horrific maw of consumption, swallowed Jo Hwi whole.
In that moment, the entire Central Plains, or rather, the world, came to a halt.
The Harvesting Rift kept checking Jo Hwi, who had entered his harvesting pouch several times.
No matter how many times he checked, the presence and flesh of the ‘Being Who Denies Existence’ were unmistakable.
Now that he had reached this point, it was the end for him.
Even if he were a creator, once he entered the Harvesting Pouch, he was no different from a trivial being.
Now, once he digested the spirit and flesh of this cosmic entity, he would truly become the supreme ruler of the universe, a creator capable of crafting worlds and dimensions.
“Kahaha!”
As the Harvesting Rift trembled with joy, he was interrupted by the sound of mechanical noises coming from Jo Hwi’s harvesting pouch.
Bleep—
“Psychic Digitalization Complete, Psychic Wave Amplification Complete, Multi-Core Mutation Complete. All Expanded Psychic Cores are now set to track predetermined objectives.”
The Harvesting Rift, who had been about to tear apart and consume Jo Hwi’s spirit and flesh, was thrown into extreme confusion.
Suddenly, the opponent’s soul and consciousness shattered into thousands, tens of thousands, and even billions of fragments, spreading out toward every ‘rift’ he had created.
A rift was an exit, but what was beyond all those exits?
As he realized something was going horribly wrong, the Harvesting Rift let out a desperate scream.
“This treacherous one!”
Dividing souls and consciousness was something any of the Sages could do.
It was a representative power of the Sages, embedding consciousness into multiple souls and turning them into avatars.
But dividing into billions? Whether it was possible or not, attempting such a thing was madness.
It was a dangerous action that could lead to the destruction of the soul itself!
It was questionable whether he could even control such a vast number of shattered consciousness, and even if they could be unified again, it was uncertain whether they could return to their original state.
It was a choice that could only be made by someone willing to face annihilation!
But as the shattered consciousness stretched out toward every rift in the Harvesting Pouch…
“N-No!”
The Harvesting Rift could only feel the overwhelming truth.
His opponent was controlling all those countless fragmented consciousnesses.
“No, this can’t be!”
But in contradiction to his desire, all of his rifts were being traced back to their origin.
If this continued, his ‘true form’ would inevitably be exposed.
Revealing his true form meant he would lose the war against the Sages.
The Being Who Denies Existence, like the creators, could manipulate time.
His other self in a different time would certainly face annihilation at Jo Hwi’s hands.
“Do you think I will let this happen!?”
In the end, the Harvesting Rift decided to sacrifice his harvesting pouch to stop Jo Hwi’s pursuit.
Sssssssss—
The vast interior of the Harvesting Pouch, like an endless abyss, slowly began to collapse.
To maintain the power to consume spirit and flesh, the harvesting pouch was essential.
Without digestion, directly consuming spirit and flesh would cause disastrous side effects.
For this reason, the Harvesting Rift had spent thousands of years perfecting this harvesting pouch.
It was like cutting off one’s own flesh.
“Kraaaah!”
But the word ‘God’ in the ‘Godbox’ wasn’t there by accident.
Jo Hwi’s countless lives, after endless repetitions, had finally completed the Godbox, which contained all of the efforts, will, and planning of the Being Who Denies Existence.
“Attempt to nullify the target’s spiritual body detected. Psychotronic Tunnel Virtualization On. Multi-Core Mutation Max Expansion. Warning! Warning! Spiritual Power Insufficient! Etheric Energy Insufficient! Psychotronic Virtualization System Time Remaining: 1 Minute!”
As this strange energy enveloped the entire Harvesting Pouch…
“Clever!”
In the end, the Harvesting Rift withdrew its own self-consciousness from the avatar.
Everything was given up, and he returned to his true form.
***
Had it not been for the support of the Godbox’s system, this would have been a risky gamble that could not be guaranteed to succeed.
The pain of having a consciousness shattered into billions of pieces and then reunited was so unbearable that even Jo Hwi, who had lived countless lifetimes, shuddered at it.
But Jo Hwi clung to his mind with a nearly maddened obsession and finally regained his sight.
A beam of light slowly spread across his pupils.
As the colorful afterimages faded, the figure of a “human” appeared in his clear pupils.
“You’re…!”
So startled that he jumped to his feet, Jo Hwi stared in disbelief at the face that slowly emerged in the light of dawn, filtering through the bars.
It was none other than…
“Jang Sambong…?”
The figure, with eyes as deep as an abyss, calmly stared back at Jo Hwi.
He was none other than Jang Sambong, the legendary founder of the Domaek sect, and the sacred figure of all the Taoist teachings.
“…You are the true form?”