I Possessed a Cultivator Destined to Die at the Hands of the Protagonist - Chapter 41

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

41.
To be honest, I hadn’t realized the technique would be this powerful.
Well, the problem’s solved, so that’s what matters.”
“Hui-gyeom, could you treat the other monks?”
“Of course.”
Eun Hui-gyeom treated the monks who couldn’t move due to petrification.
I approached Peng Seok-ho, who had risen after receiving Eun Hui-gyeom’s treatment.
Peng Seok-ho, having witnessed my spiritual power, opened his mouth with visible tension.
“Were you… a senior all along?”
“Senior? We’re both 10th rank monks.”
“…Ugh.”
At my answer that we were the same rank, Peng Seok-ho’s face twisted as if he couldn’t believe it.
He brushed the dust from his clothes and stood up.
“Let’s forget what I just said.”
“Your hasty judgment ruined the plan. Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”
“Hmph, the outcome would’ve been the same either way. I could’ve broken through that formation on my own without your help!”
“That’s… not even worth calling an excuse…”
“Hui-gyeom, that’s enough.”
I stopped Eun Hui-gyeom, who was about to explode.
There was no point in arguing further with someone incapable of self-reflection and devoid of remorse.
“Why are those still lying on the ground doing nothing!”
Peng Seok-ho vented his frustration on the junior monks below.
Still, perhaps because I’d demonstrated my power, he wasn’t acting as arrogantly as when we’d first entered the cave.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jin Seok-jun sensed the spiritual energy deeper within the cave.
“I sense the Tosin Foundation’s presence further inside. We should proceed with caution.”
Having been caught once before, Peng Seok-ho entered deeper with a more serious demeanor this time.
And separately from that.
“Ahem. You, practitioner. Or rather, you, cultivator.”
“…”
Woo Seong-hun and Wi Tae-gang subtly circled around us.
When I turned my head and met their eyes, the two exchanged glances.
“We heard you’d entered seclusion, but surely you didn’t actually reach 10th rank?”
“And if I did?”
“Well, it would’ve been nice if you’d mentioned it beforehand. Please forgive the rudeness we’ve inadvertently committed.”
At their apologies, I couldn’t help but let out a bemused laugh.
Even in a world where strength is law, their shift in attitude was as easy as flipping a palm.
“Well, what should I do?”
“Eek! Cultivator, why are you doing this?”
“You didn’t know any better, so I’ll let it slide this time. But don’t challenge me again.”
As I subtly released my spiritual power, the two nodded slightly.
We made our way toward the Deepest Chamber of the Cave.
“Something’s coming!”
“Talismans on their chests—they’re definitely Mano!”
“Prepare for combat!”
Armed Mano descended upon the monastery disciples like a tidal wave.
Most of those Paecheonmun had transformed into Mano were martial masters in their former lives.
This meant some of them were formidable opponents even for the monastery disciples.
Peng Seok-ho swiftly wove his hand seals.
Toxic Venom Dance.
A thick noxious mist erupted from his fingertips.
The dense poison fog spread outward, and in an instant, it dulled the movements of the Mano creatures.
“Now! Tear the talismans from their bodies or burn them!”
At Peng Seok-ho’s command, the other disciples struck down the Mano and pressed deeper into the chamber.
“That fellow’s quite enthusiastic.”
“He took quite the blow before.”
His pride wounded, Peng Seok-ho fought the Mano with noticeably aggressive fervor.
We felled an endless stream of Mano and finally reached the vast cavern at the Deepest Chamber.
A rapid volley of impacts echoed through the space.
The moment we stepped into the deepest cavern, massive boulders came hurtling at us from all directions.
“Block them!”
The disciples skilled in defensive techniques stepped forward and intercepted the enormous stones.
The rocks tumbled downward, raising clouds of dust.
As the dust settled, the remnants of Paecheonmun and an enormous Tosin Foundation altar came into view.
“That is…”
The revealed Tosin Foundation altar was the largest I had ever seen.
Scattered around the altar lay the petrified corpses of criminals and disciples alike—their bodies turned to stone by the petrification phenomenon, mingled together in death.
“Wait, didn’t you say these were merely the remnants of Paecheonmun?”
“And isn’t that altar far too massive?”
“What in the world is happening here?”
The disciples, who had believed this would be a simple task of eliminating Paecheonmun remnants, were bewildered.
“Tch! What does it matter?! We just need to take down that thing and we’re done!”
Peng Seok-ho wove his seals and unleashed the Jade Cyclone Formation.
His surroundings shimmered with verdant light as massive shards of jade hurtled rapidly toward the altar.
“Did we get it?!”
“…stop making that sound!”
“Ahem, Seonsja. Why are you angry with me?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
That sound alone made me feel like an idiot, triggering an involuntary outburst.
A deafening boom shook the chamber.
The surging earth collided with the jade shards Peng Seok-ho had created, erupting in a violent explosion.
The anomaly occurred next.
“The ground is moving!”
“Everyone, take to the sky!”
The monks of the Jeongmun Paldae swiftly ascended into the air as the earth trembled so violently that standing was nearly impossible.
“Hehe, how fortunate that the monks of the Jeongmun Paldae have walked into my trap of their own accord. I shall offer every last one of you as sacrifices to Mato.”
“Do not grow careless, Jeok-yeon.”
Among the sorcerers of the Paecheonmun, a woman with crimson hair wielding a steel wire—Jeok-yeon—and a middle-aged man stood out distinctly.
Eun Hui-gyeom and I locked eyes.
As the ground rippled, instead of ascending skyward, Eun Hui-gyeom stepped into the True Stance and closed the distance to Jeok-yeon in a heartbeat.
“Oh my?”
Jeok-yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
Eun Hui-gyeom tightened his grip on his blade and unleashed the Seven Stars Meteor Sword Technique.
With each swing, azure sword energy fell mercilessly, targeting Jeok-yeon.
As Jeok-yeon flicked her fingers, the ground convulsed, and petrified puppets erupted from its surface to shield her.
Eun Hui-gyeom drew his blade belatedly, but it proved futile.
The petrified puppets shattered into dust upon contact with the sword energy.
As the dust scattered on the wind, Eun Hui-gyeom’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Jeok-yeon’s form vanished from before him, only to materialize behind him.
The crimson steel wire in her hand aimed toward the side of his neck.
“How sluggish.”
“That’s rich coming from you.”
A blue lotus bloomed between the steel wire and Eun Hui-gyeom’s neck.
As I formed the hand seal, the lotus erupted, and spiritual energy rippled outward.
In an instant, the distance between them widened, and Eun Hui-gyeom spun around, regaining his footing.
“I thought there were only mediocre fools here, but you have some skill.”
Jeok-yeon laughed softly, concealing her mouth behind her fan.
“I told you not to be careless.”
“Quiet, Gal-yung. Attend to your own task.”
The man called Gal-yung sighed and pressed both hands against the ground.
The earth surged upward, and a massive earth dragon materialized.
“Stop it!”
“This madness! The sorcerers of the Paecheonmun are unleashing bizarre techniques!”
One of the earth dragon’s three heads targeted a suspended monk.
Whoooosh.
The violent wind conjured by Kang Jin-heon pushed back the earth dragon, leaving wounds upon its body.
Yet the wounds swiftly regenerated.
Simultaneously, the massive earthen puppet created by Jin Seok-jun struck the earth dragon’s body with tremendous force.
The two of them, united with the other monks, held back the earth dragon.
In that moment, both Eun Hui-gyeom’s and my gaze naturally turned toward Jeok-yeon.
As Jeok-yeon lightly fluttered her fan and formed a hand seal, the petrified puppets scattered across the battlefield rose with an eerie sound.
“Hmm, I thought your face looked familiar—so you’re the rat who created a cure for petrification disease and scattered it among the criminals.”
“How did you know that?”
“Know? Because of your pointless meddling, my experiment became a complete disaster. Wretches who deserve to be torn to shreds are crawling in here of their own accord—how convenient.”
“…An experiment?”
“Indeed. I was experimenting on how quickly I could contaminate the earth’s ley lines using the bodies of worthless criminals as vessels. Do you have any idea how much trouble your pointless interference caused me?”
Jeok-yeon’s brow furrowed as she recalled the incident, her irritation evident.
I stepped forward, gripping my blade tightly.
“Many people died because of that experiment.”
“Hmph, what does it matter if a few criminals perish?”
“They are human beings, just like us.”
“Child of a worthless monastery, how could criminals and us be called the same species? Besides, that’s why useless things like life-giving pills are created…”
Whoosh.
My blade, materializing before Jeok-yeon, slashed diagonally across her iron threads.
“Don’t speak carelessly when you understand nothing.”

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