I Possessed a Cultivator Destined to Die at the Hands of the Protagonist - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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12.
In contrast, my own growth had gradually slowed over time.
They say that learning cultivation methods dulls one’s progress, but I couldn’t help feeling a touch aggrieved.
‘A talent for water-based techniques, then.’
I finally understood why Baek Un-jin had been the only one in the original story willing to take Eun Hui-gyeom as a disciple.
‘Eun Hui-gyeom has talent for water techniques, sure enough, but I have no idea what my own specialty is.’
Unlike Eun Hui-gyeom, who specialized in water-based methods, my spiritual power lacked any distinct elemental affinity.
At the lower cultivation ranks, this difference wasn’t significant enough to cause problems, but not knowing my attribute clearly created considerable inconvenience in many ways.
This is precisely why possessing a rare spiritual root is so troublesome.
Unlike the spiritual roots that already exist and are well understood, mine defies categorization.
“Anyway, since I won our last match, you absolutely cannot leave my side until the Seonmun Tournament ends!”
“I understand.”
I had challenged Eun Hui-gyeom to a fair duel just before the Seonmun Tournament began.
‘The loser must obey the winner’s commands throughout the tournament!’
‘What? Wait a moment. You’re a 3-star cultivator and I’m only 2-star! It’s obvious I’ll lose, so why would I—!’
‘No arguments!’
Yes, that was the situation.
Since I had no way of knowing where Eun Hui-gyeom might meet with disaster, I decided to use my superior strength to pin him down and keep him by my side throughout.
‘I won’t be helpless like in the original story.’
And just to be safe, I had prepared another measure as well.
‘Master! During the tournament, you absolutely cannot—I mean, you mustn’t go anywhere!’
‘Go where? I’m not going anywhere.’
‘If some strange person—someone you don’t know—calls for you, you mustn’t follow them! We promised to watch over each other until the very end!’
I had made the promise with Baek Un-jin repeatedly, even linking our pinky fingers.
With such explicit warnings, Baek Un-jin would surely pay more attention to the tournament than in the original story.
I waved my hand toward Baek Un-jin, who sat in the upper-middle section.
His striking appearance made him stand out effortlessly among the crowd.
***
Whoosh.
Baek Un-jin pressed his forehead with his hand as Yoo Yeon-seo waved her arms so vigorously that even those at a distance could see her.
“So those two children are disciples of Elder Baek. I’ve heard the rumors, but they seem quite young.”
“Youth matters little when talent shines so brilliantly. They are exceptional disciples.”
“Haha! Well, naturally they would be, given who brought them. However, overconfidence is not a virtue. As you well know, the Seonmun Tournament is far from a simple affair.”
“I appreciate the counsel, Seo Dam-mok. But I have faith in my disciples. Surely they won’t commit such foolish blunders as someone else’s disciples might.”
“I trust you’re not referring to my disciples?”
Baek Un-jin didn’t even answer, merely concealing his face slightly behind his fan while his eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Seo Dam-mok, who had provoked him, flushed crimson and expressed his irritation openly.
“Impudent brat, acting so aloof. Refusing to take disciples all this time, and now suddenly? Let’s see just how capable they truly are!”
The Seonmun Tournament consisted of four events in total.
The Qi Test—evaluating the flow of spiritual energy.
The Law Test—evaluating the application of magical power.
The Martial Test—evaluating combat prowess.
And finally, the Dao Test—a comprehensive evaluation of all three.
The Qi Test was conducted on the Unsim Stone, a circular platform suspended above the clouds, where contestants had to demonstrate their breath-control techniques.
“Aaaahhh! A serpent!”
“A, a dragon? Why is it here…?”
“Get away, get away from me!”
If one’s meridians remained stable, no illusions would manifest. But the slightest disturbance in spiritual energy would conjure grotesque phantoms that disrupted the breath-control technique.
Those who could no longer endure and rose from their seats were eliminated.
Eun Hui-gyeom and I had practiced this extensively, so we passed without difficulty.
The Law Test required contestants to control phantom beasts using magical power within the Unryeong Barrier.
A phantom beast of the third rank materialized before me.
‘I can do this!’
I felt the celestial energy surrounding me seep into my body, strengthening it.
As I extended my hand forward, a blue sphere materialized behind me and began circling the phantom beast.
Snap, snap, snap.
I swiftly wove the hand seals and unleashed the Cheongryeong technique.
Light from the sphere connected with itself, binding the phantom beast.
Simultaneously, a horn sounded, and the phantom beast vanished.
“Yoo Yeon-seo! Perfect score!”
I received a perfect score in the Law Test with confidence.
However, in the Martial Test—
“Eun Hui-gyeom! Perfect score!”
Eun Hui-gyeom, a genius with the blade, earned a perfect score, while I managed to secure 95 points, slightly below his.
Throughout the test, I kept my eyes fixed on Eun Hui-gyeom without a moment’s distraction.
Yet no concerning incidents or accidents occurred.
‘Then it must be the Dao Test after all.’
I was certain there was something suspicious about the Dao’s trial.
The Dao’s trial required entering the Cheongseong Great Formation surrounding Cheongryeong Mountain, finding the barrier stone on the mountain, and stabilizing the barrier.
Around the barrier stone, spirits and vengeful ghosts appeared as enemies, along with phantom beasts that had been strategically positioned beforehand.
In truth, spirits and vengeful ghosts were enemies that could be defeated easily enough with a cultivator at the 1-star level.
This trial would be conducted in groups of three.
I glanced around nervously.
The disciples participating in the Seonmun Tournament were discussing with one another to find group members.
“What’s wrong? Sister?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Someone you’re looking for?”
“Yes.”
“What do they look like?”
“Tall, hair tied up, and obviously handsome.”
“Me?”
…
“Ow, why did you step on me!”
Eun Hui-gyeom’s face flushed red, tears glistening in his eyes.
This brat was already aware of his own handsomeness despite his youth—he was rotten to the core from the start.
“No! I mean someone with a sparkle, dazzling eyes, but with an unlucky face!”
“That’s clearly me…. Just joking! Besides, with a description like that, people usually can’t figure it out… Could it be that one?”
Eun Hui-gyeom’s finger pointed over my shoulder.
I turned around and spotted a young man surrounded by several disciples.
He appeared to be around eighteen years old.
Tall and well-proportioned, with a small face, distinct features and large eyes, and fair white skin—he lacked nothing in appearance.
His beauty alone was enough to draw everyone’s attention.
Found him!
Kang Jin-heon.
He was one of the figures destined to become Yang Ja-han’s rival at Cheonmyeong Suseonggi.
The description mentioned that his face was strikingly beautiful, drawing attention wherever he went, and it was indeed the case.
As I stared blankly at Kang Jin-heon, Eun Hui-gyeom frowned.
“Sister, surely you’re not thinking of recruiting that guy as a member of our group?”
“Huh? But I am.”
“Please reconsider. As they say, handsome men live up to their faces.”
Yes. That’s talking about you.
I ignored Eun Hui-gyeom and strode toward Kang Jin-heon.
“You don’t have a group yet, right? We’re two people—want to be in the same group?”
…
Kang Jin-heon kept his mouth shut, looking down at me and Eun Hui-gyeom, who had hurried after me.
“What level?”
“I’m 3-star, and this one is 2-star.”
“You?”
Kang Jin-heon blinked, his expression one of disbelief.
I nodded, keeping my hand on my waist.
“Yes. So, are you going to do it or not?”
“Do it.”
“Wait, who do you think you are, suddenly appearing and taking him away! We already claimed him first!”
The moment I intercepted Kang Jin-heon, another disciple cried out in alarm.
“Claiming? The person who speaks first gets him! If you’re unhappy, you should have approached him first!”
“That is….”
They had merely been engaged in a silent contest of wills, trying to claim Kang Jin-heon without actually speaking to him.
When I inserted myself into their standoff and snatched him away, they grew indignant.
“I don’t care where I go.”
Kang Jin-heon himself, the subject of all this attention, seemed genuinely indifferent.
I’m sorry, Hui-gyeom, but your instincts were wrong.
Kang Jin-heon was someone who possessed striking features yet possessed no awareness of his own prominence—a dangerous combination.
In fact, with that face, he had reduced countless monks at Cheonmyeong Sueonseon-gi to the level of sea anemones or lower by simply considering himself ordinary—and this had happened dozens of times over.
‘He’s difficult to befriend, but I absolutely must get close to him.’
Kang Jin-heon was a supporting figure at Cheonmyeong Sueonseon-gi, and traveling with him would surely bring opportunities for aid down the line.
I brought Kang Jin-heon to a secluded spot and exchanged names with him.
“I’m Yoo Yeon-seo, and this is….”
“Eun Hui-gyeom. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Kang Jin-heon.”
“….”
“…?”
“When someone says they’re pleased to make your acquaintance, you’re supposed to respond!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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