I Possessed a Cultivator Destined to Die at the Hands of the Protagonist - Chapter 24

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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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24.
It was a massive altar constructed from earth.
‘Is this an altar to the Earth God?’
In the original story, Paecheonmun had secretly built an altar to gather earthenware in places saturated with it, intending to trigger a calamity of earth.
I approached the altar cautiously, just to be sure.
Countless talismans were plastered haphazardly across its surface.
“These talismans are….”
I examined closely a yellowed talisman at the edge of the altar.
The bizarrely twisted serpentine brushwork and the inverted pentagram pattern carved at its center bore a striking resemblance to the talisman that had been affixed to Cheongun’s body.
Kang Jin-heon seemed to share the same thought, as he retrieved a torn talisman from his pocket and compared it.
The talismans attached to the altar came in various types, and one of them matched perfectly with the talisman that had been on Cheongun.
“Could the one who caused the petrification plague be the same creature that drove Cheongun to death?”
“It certainly seems that way.”
Sinister demonic energy seeped from the altar.
This malevolent qi was likely the source of the petrification plague.
Black, shimmering demonic energy continuously leaked from the altar like heat haze.
This ominous force flowed through the earth’s meridians and seeped into the bodies of those who had come to mine.
“Can it be eliminated?”
“We’ll have to try.”
In the original story, Baek Un-jin purified the altar with just a single incantation.
While Baek Un-jin’s prowess was remarkable, the Chingwoo Immortal Sect’s advanced techniques in this particular system of magic also played a role.
At least it was fortunate that the Earth God altar Kang Jin-heon and I discovered was smaller than expected.
In the original story, there were altars far larger and emanating far more sinister energy than this.
I should have learned purification techniques beforehand.
When my master returns, I’ll ask him to teach me purification and life-cultivation techniques first.
“Purification seems too difficult, so let’s just destroy it.”
“Is that alright?”
“The already-contaminated earth can’t be helped, but destroying it should at least prevent the turbid energy from leaking out.”
I’d heard that monks without purification techniques destroyed altars this way.
Even if we can’t purify it, this is far better than leaving it alone entirely.
It was the moment I was about to form a hand seal to destroy the altar.
Ku-gu-gu-gu.
The earth directly beneath my feet writhed like a living creature.
Simultaneously, the ground behind me erupted upward explosively.
“What?!”
“Watch out!”
As Kang Jin-heon shouted, the ground where he stood exploded upward.
The earth that shot into the air sharpened and hurtled toward me.
“Not happening!”
I reinforced my body with magical force and batted away all the incoming earth with my bare hands.
I felt the ground inside the cave trembling beneath my feet.
“It’s deeper in!”
As I turned my head and raised my voice, Kang Jin-heon swiftly wielded his fan.
A sharp gust of wind exploded from the tip of the fanned blade.
As the shimmering wind dissipated, a man emerged from within, his face concealed beneath a bamboo hat.
‘This is no ordinary person.’
There was no way a criminal would have made it this far at a time like this.
He was almost certainly either affiliated with Paecheonmun or a monastery disciple.
He extended his hand toward us and formed a hand seal.
The ground beneath my feet undulated as clay golems materialized and lunged at me.
“I’m fine—subdue that bastard!”
Kang Jin-heon surged forward like the wind itself, closing the distance.
I mercilessly cut down the earthen soldiers approaching me.
In the meantime, Kang Jin-heon and the man clashed at close range.
The clay golems he created regenerated instantly even after being severed.
I barely evaded the earthen soldier’s downward strike.
Slash.
‘Huh?’
The blade the golem wielded grazed past the altar’s edge, slicing through a talisman resting upon it.
‘That’s strange.’
In the original story, Paecheonmun held the altars they created in quite high regard.
If this man were truly a monastery disciple of Paecheonmun, his clay golems would never have cut through a talisman.
After evading the golem’s assault, I leaped into the air and swiftly formed a hand seal, unleashing the Cheongyeon Technique.
Burst.
Dozens of azure lotus blossoms bloomed and spread across the void.
The flowers spiraled outward, adhering to the clay golems.
As the earthenware crumbled, the golems crumbled back into soil.
A blue mist-like energy permeated in all directions, swiftly dominating the entire area.
“What kind of cultivation technique possesses such power…? Wait? That technique! Could you be a disciple of Chingwoo Immortal Sect?”
I landed lightly on the ground and regarded the man.
Just then, the wind Kang Jin-heon created severed the cord of the bamboo hat the man wore.
His brown hair scattered as the hat flew away on the breeze.
“That’s right. We are disciples of Chingwoo Immortal Sect. Who are you to set an ambush without warning?”
“My apologies for the misunderstanding. I am… a disciple of Hyeonganmun, Jin Seok-jun… Wait! Ugh!”
Before he could finish speaking, Kang Jin-heon unleashed the Poongyeol Technique.
Jin Seok-jun, caught without a defense, was sent flying and crashed into the cave wall.
“…”
“…”
“Didn’t he just say something?”
“Please, just listen to what people are saying!”
I found myself beginning to understand Eun Hui-gyeom’s frustration with Kang Jin-heon.
So this is how you felt.
Since I harbored little mercy toward those I deemed enemies, I seemed to have failed to listen carefully to what Jin Seok-jun was saying.
Kang Jin-heon brushed the dust from his clothes, glancing briefly at Jin Seok-jun as he unsteadily rose to his feet.
“He’s not dead, so it should be fine. It’s his own fault for attacking without warning.”
At Kang Jin-heon’s confident demeanor, I pressed my lips firmly together.
“Ow, that hurts.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that….”
I stepped closer and examined his face carefully.
In truth, I had already begun to suspect his identity when he was halfway through his introduction.
‘Jin Seok-jun of Hyeonganmun.’
Hyeonganmun, along with Chingwoo Immortal Sect, was one of the Jeongmun Paldae, a sect specialized in manipulating the energy of earth.
‘If my memory serves me correctly…. Jin Seok-jun should die preventing the calamity of earth.’
True to its nature as a xianxia work, the Cheonmyeong Suseonggi featured a considerable cast of characters.
And among them were several who lost their lives, Jin Seok-jun being one of them.
The hero of Hyeonganmun who prevents the calamity of earth and makes the ultimate sacrifice.
That was the Jin Seok-jun I remembered from the original work.
Jin Seok-jun cupped his fist and bowed respectfully.
“I apologize for the misunderstanding. I am Jin Seok-jun of Hyeonganmun.”
We exchanged introductions briefly.
Kang Jin-heon folded his fan and asked in a cool voice.
“What was a disciple of Hyeonganmun doing in a place like this?”
“I apologize, but that’s what I’d like to ask. Why are the monks of Chingwoo Immortal Sect here?”
“We….”
Kang Jin-heon slightly covered his lips with the tip of his fan, then looked at me.
He seemed uncertain whether it was appropriate to speak.
“We came here searching for a way to treat patients.”
“Patients?”
“Well….”
We told him about the petrification disease patients appearing in some regions of Baekryeon Kingdom and what had happened in Nakhyeon Village.
“Then what exactly was that talisman?”
“A talisman?”
“You were carrying a talisman to the temple, so I naturally assumed you were a sorcerer from Paecheonmun here to repair the temple.”
“You mean this one?”
Kang Jin-heon pulled a talisman from his robes.
“Why do you possess a talisman of Paecheonmun?”
“Paecheonmun? I’m not sure what that is, but do you know something about this talisman?”
“That is a talisman used by Paecheonmun. Its purpose differs somewhat from what’s attached here, but it’s certainly not for good use. How did you come to possess such a talisman?”
“There were certain circumstances.”
When Kang Jin-heon began recounting the matter involving the Mudan Sect, Jin Seok-jun’s expression darkened.
We realized we had misunderstood each other and took a moment to clarify our positions.
“I see. That’s something I wasn’t aware of.”
Jin Seok-jun had been pursuing only matters related to the petrification plague, and appeared unaware that Paecheonmun was conducting experiments on martial artists.
“You mentioned that foundation was created by Paecheonmun, but what exactly is Paecheonmun?”
“Paecheonmun is a heretical sect founded by disciples who were expelled from Hyeonganmun centuries ago.”
“So that’s why the seal of Hyeonganmun was on the talisman.”
“It’s a seal they no longer use.”

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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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